Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners (1939-2012)

Subject: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:20 AM

The news just breaking: Irish Times

The last standing founding member of the Dubliners, father of the Irish tenor banjo.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:28 AM

RTE News

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:29 AM

O noooo! Another stalwart gone. May he Rest in peace / Have an almighty hooley up in Heaven

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:32 AM

One of the most influencial musicians of his generation

L in C#

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:39 AM

One of my all time heroes, I first heard him on Radio Caroline when I was a young soldier in Germany 45 years ago.

He'll be somewhere playing with Luke, Ronnie and Ciaron now.

RIP Barney.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Vin2
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:43 AM

Very sad news. He must have inspired an unmeasurable number of people over the yeare with his playing and presence with such a legendary band as The Dubliners.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Zen
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:45 AM

One of my heros and one of the first musicians I ever saw live on my own (original Dubliners concert when I was 12). A wonderful man and a great inspiration to so many. May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Vic Smith
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:53 AM

http://www.hotpress.com/Barney-McKenna/news/RIP-Barney-McKenna/8810770.html?new_layout=1

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: bfdk
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:55 AM

Sad to hear this. RIP Barney!

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Stringsinger
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 10:04 AM

The dropped tenor banjo tuning may have been one of his inventions for the Irish banjo.
Elmer Snowden adopted that tuning for jazz playing when he was the founder of the Washingtonians.

I prefer the sound of the dropped tenor GDAE in preference to the screaming high
tenor CGDA.

Gerry O'Connor uses the standard tenor banjo CGDA but I always thought that
the dropped tenor tuning filled in better with a mellow sound. It's a matter of preference.

McKenna was an innovator.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Jim McLean
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 10:08 AM

I was the Dubliners' first road manager when they hit the charts with Seven Drunken Nights and spent a couple of memorable weeks trying to look after them in clubs in the north of England.. Barney was one of the funniest men I knew and his Barneyisms are legendary. He once told me a shilling was worth a few bob in the old days. Only John Sheehan remains from the group I knew. Barney was great musician and human beIng. Sad.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 10:15 AM

Earl Scruggs and Barney McKenna gone within a week. God must be collecting banjo players. Why couldn't he take bagpipers instead?

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 10:18 AM

Finbar Furey once recalled getting a lift into Dublin with Barney, and telling him to slow down bejaysus, Barney replied ' if you think this is bad, you should be with me when I'm on me own '

Dave H

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 10:20 AM

As far as I'm concerned, Barney's banjo and John's fiddle defined the essential Dubliners' instrumental sound, while Luke and Ronnie's vocals defined the singing sound. This is not to make light of the contributions of Bobby Lynch, Ciaran Bourke, Sean Cannon, Jim McCann, et al, but IMO the quintessential Dubliners' sound was Barney, John, Luke and Ronnie.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 12:11 PM

A decent spud, and close-to-perfection musician.

Jim, do you know where I can get a copy on any medium of the Dubliners live at the Royal Albert Hall around 1970, which might originally have been put out on the Major Minor label? (It included "The Old Alarm Clock" and one or two others edited out of subsequent releases.) Was it your name on the sleeve notes by any chance?

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Jim McLean
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 01:09 PM

Peter, yes I wrote the sleeve notes. I have a copy of the album and if you send me an address, I can put it on a CD.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: bill\sables
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 01:25 PM

Sad News, I knew Barney way back in the 60's A Great bloke

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: GUEST,flush
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 02:14 PM

Sad news indeed, I had the pleasure of sharing a stage with all the originals back in the 70's, RIP old friend you may be gone but you will never be forgotten

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 02:36 PM

Sad news, but just imagine the craic up there on Fiddler's Green!

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 03:11 PM

Sad News another great inspiration to so many now gone

Gerry

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: buddhuu
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 04:25 PM

More gutted than I can say.

Barney was the reason I took up mandolin and tenor banjo. I don't do heroes, but Barney was one.

From Andy Irvine's song "O'Donahue's"...

"Banjo Barney calling the tune
Mary Jordan's a whizz on the spoons
Up the Swanee and down the broom
Barney's rising to it
They carry him bodily out to the jacks
He empties his bladder and they carry him back
He lowers a pint and he's right back on track
How the fuck does he do it?"

There will never be another. RIP.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: gnu
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 04:30 PM

Sad news.

Seamus Kennedy... pipers? Because heaven is full of pipers. >;-)

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 11:56 PM

That would be terrific, Jim. I've sent my address by PM.

That live album was the first of theirs I had. I valued it as much for its sleeve notes as its content. but lost it in a burglary 40 years ago. I've been on the lookout for another copy ever since. I did get the reissue, but it jumbled up the songs, destroying the continuity of the live recording.

I once saw Barney turn up incognito for a session at McCaul's outside Warrenpoint. My eyesight isn't great, and for 20 years or so he'd been looking older than I always think of him, so it was only when he started playing that I realised who it was.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 01:45 AM

Gnu - not enough of them... :0)

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 03:18 AM

It is sad news, he had been in poor health for many years. I first met Barney at a wedding in Galway in 1971 with his wife Joka. Sadly she died in the mid eighties.

Rest in Peace.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: scouse
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 06:10 AM

He bought a boat and talked about it all the time.. Carsten in Denmark ask him to come visit... His supposedly answer was, with a smile on his face.."When I get out of the Liffe, do I turn right or left for Denmark??" There will never be another Barney.. rest in peace ol' friend.

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 08:21 AM

Sad to hear and only 72.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Big Phil
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 01:30 PM

The Tenor Banjo Maestro Barney McKenna has left the stage.

Thanks for the music Cousin, RIP.

Phil*

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 04:51 PM

The inspiration for my picking up the mandoline, a lovely fella, a very dry funny man, a fair old player on the melodeon. Barney will be sorely missed.    I think it's time now for the Dubs



to call it a day. Barney was the heart of the group.
I don't mean to upset anyone at this sad time. but do they really need to carry on now?
                        mandomad

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: mandomad
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 04:58 PM

Sorry, the Guest above was a cookieless me.
                      mandomad

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 05:00 PM

Full page obit in the Times today.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 05:12 PM

I don't think they should disband..but of course it is up to them...the group has gone on without other members and it is never the same but it is still great...RIP. mg

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Big Phil
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 05:50 PM

Aye, it's a bad time to query if the group ought to disband, but maybe John will be giving it some thought as he is "the last man standing" so to speak.

When you are part of a legend, the decision must be very difficult.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 08:52 PM

It really is the end of an era, personally I think the heart has now gone from Irelands greatest band.

Very very sad time for me, Dave H

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Jim Martin
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 08:38 AM

Nice obit by Derek Schofield in The Guardian yesterday:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/06/barney-mckenna?INTCMP=SRCH

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 10:34 AM

No they should never disband.

Subject: RE: 2012 Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners
From: goatfell
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 10:59 AM

so sad he's gone RIP Barney

Subject: Obit: Barney McKenna (1939-2012)
From: Ernest
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 12:07 PM

From http://www.thedubliners.org/

Sad, sad news - the great, one and only, Barney McKenna died peacefully on Thursday April 5th at his home in Howth, Dublin. Ar dheis Dé dá hanam.

"It is with great sadness that The Dubliners announce the sudden passing of Barney McKenna this morning at his home in Howth, Co Dublin.
The band, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support. Words cannot describe how we all feel. He was one in a million. The greatest tenor banjo player of his generation. Barney spent his life travelling the world playing Irish music. He loved it. The world loved him. May he rest in peace"

Condolences to all his family and friends. He will be missed.

Ernest

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners (1939-2012)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 12 - 03:31 PM

RIP Barney, What a man, what a musician, he inspired many thousands and he will be sadly missed....but never forgotten.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners (1939-2012)
From: GUEST,Colin Randall
Date: 11 Apr 12 - 03:00 PM

With thanks to Jim Mclean, who knows I quoted his message posted here, and Dave Hanson, who doesn't (but I feel sure won't mind), this is my own small tribute


http://www.salutlive.com/2012/04/barney-mckenna.html


I find it eerie looking at the old photos of the oriignal line-up in the knowledge they have all now gone. Great band, one that has sent me away happy more than any other.

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners (1939-2012)
From: Colin Randall
Date: 11 Apr 12 - 03:42 PM

And since people are talking about ''Barneyisms'', wouldn't he have loved this gem from the Daily Telegraph obit ...


''... almost single-handedly introduced the tenor banjo to the forefront of Irish music.''

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners (1939-2012)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 03:46 AM

Nice one Colin.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners (1939-2012)
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 09:29 AM

Sorry for drifting, but I need to report that Jim McLean duly sent me not only a CD of the LP I was asking about above, but also the LP itself in original sleeve, complete with sleeve notes written by Jim himself - perceptive verses about Ronnie, Luke, Barney, John and Ciaran; surely the quintessential line-up.

So thanks Mudcat, and even more, thanks Jim!

Subject: RE: Obit: Barney McKenna of Dubliners (1939-2012)
From: goatfell
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 10:19 AM

in heaven the orginal dubliners