2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)

Subject: Obit: Sean Burke
From: Vic Smith
Date: 16 Jul 20 - 10:54 AM

I was asking for identifications in a picture that I had posted on Facebook. One of the faces I knew to have the forename of 'Sean' and that I knew that he sang at Swindon Folk Club. Paul Burgess responded with this:-

Sean Burke, sadly died of Covid-19 a few weeks ago. A real character - great fun.

I knew little about Sean except that I always enjoyed his company at Sidmouth Folk Festival events and when he popped into our club in Lewes when something brought him to Sussex.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Burke
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 16 Jul 20 - 01:15 PM

Thanks for this info, Vic- I wasn't aware- very sad. He and the late Jim Coughlin of Limerick were a double act of great songs and plenty of laughs & stalwarts of the excellent Swindon club.

Sean's habit of removing his flat cap in mid-song to find his words always got a laugh. When we lived in West Cork we asked him to come and sing at our informal 'folk club' at the Courtyard pub in Schull, he always joked that he daren't as the guards would get him.

He did eventually agree & the locals loved him- i remember one riotous night in the Shamrock pub in Dunmanway, which was, I think, his home town?    great memories, RIP Sean    Francie & Jim Bainbridge

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Burke
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 16 Jul 20 - 01:39 PM

Sorry to hear this; condolences from all at Tigerfolk where he was guest on a number of occasions over the years.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)
From: GUEST,Sean O'Shea
Date: 17 Jul 20 - 08:47 AM

Sean Burke was a dear friend who made me laugh from start to finish on the occasions we were together.A lovely and knowledgeable singer, the world is a little less bright.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 19 Jul 20 - 06:28 AM

I am sorry to hear this. Sean was a character. I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread and add my condolences to those from all who know and love him.

RIP

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Jul 20 - 04:50 PM

i met Sean many times at Swindon folk club, i think he was originally from west cork, either Bandon or Dunmanway,a friendly pleasant man

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)
From: GUEST,Sean O'Shea
Date: 20 Jul 20 - 03:31 AM

He was a class act spoofer as well.The removing of his flat cap was one of his gags,he never kept song word crib sheets in his cap.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)
From: GUEST,jim not ian bainbridge
Date: 20 Jul 20 - 04:57 AM

Dunmanway

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Jul 20 - 07:27 AM

He had not been at Swindon folk club for some years. Sorry to hear of his death, hope he did not suffer too much in illness.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)
From: Brian Peters
Date: 20 Jul 20 - 08:02 AM

Like Dick, I remember Sean very well from Swindon FC. Always loved his performances.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: Sean Burke (UK)
From: GUEST,Sheila Miller (guest)
Date: 17 Aug 20 - 08:01 AM

I'm coming to this late, having just heard. I met Sean many times, mainly in the Volunteer at Sidmouth (he was one of the people from the Swindon club who always dropped into the festival for a day or two on their way to the Dartmoor weekend), and always enjoyed his company and his singing; we danced together a couple of times too. He was a lovely man, and I'm sorry to hear that he's fallen victim to this terrible disease.