The Shanty Johnny Collins was in the Góilín Club on Friday and he did a great set, but this thread is about Irish Johnny Collins (known in his community as Slabber).

Johnny was a stalwart member of the Góilín and he was a fine singer with a good repertoire of songs. He was a member of the Travelling People and he carried a great love and pride in his culture and his heritage. He was a great ambassador for his people and he represented many of the noble, unique and valuable aspects of his rich, vibrant and much maligned heritage. Johnny will be sadly missed by his family and his many friends whether Travellers or Buffers. I will miss him in the Góilín for I was very fond of him and I loved to hear his unique style of singing.

I composed a song about a Traveller a few months ago and Johnny said that he thought it a good song. I gave him the words and the tune, he said that he would learn it. I don't know if he did learn it but I will sing it in his honour in the Góilín on Friday night.

The funeral arrangements are as follows; Tomorrow Thursday 17th May at 5.00pm there will be a wake for him in the funeral parlour in Finglas Village. He will be interred in Edenderry after 11o'c service in the Catholic church in Finglas.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Fergus Russell