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.