Ronnie Drew 1st Year Anniversary
Posted on 16th Aug 09 by Colm Cullen | 
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Ronnie Drew was Dublin. Simple as. When he died, a lot of what was best about Dublin died. He knew the communities, when they looked after each other; the non-drugs riddled streets that we now endure. A different Dublin that we aspire to now. And with him gone,it’s harder to get that back. Ronnie could [...]
Ronnie Drew was Dublin. Simple as. When he died, a lot of what was best about Dublin died. He knew the communities, when they looked after each other; the non-drugs riddled streets that we now endure. A different Dublin that we aspire to now. And with him gone,it’s harder to get that back. Ronnie could walk anywhere he wanted and get treated with respect. And well deserved. The man was a god within Dublin circles. If you’re not from the Big Smoke, you probably have the usual issues against the capital, but this man epitomised what was best about us.
Ronnie Drew was a legend. My first enounter was the first Dublin Guinness Temple Bar Blues Festival in the early nineties. Rory Gallagher headlined, and Ronnie hopped up for the Barley and Grape Rag. It was a Rory song covered by The Dubliners, and Ronnie hopped up to sing. The first encounter was excellent.
I knew who he was, but not WHO he was. To me, if he was good enough for Rory, he was good enough for me. Then I knew who he was. And never forgot. We’re now 25+ plus years later, and they’re both dead. Ronnie and Rory deserve to be remembered for this outstanding gig. Irrelevant of the gig, the two of them should be remembered for the legends that they were.
Ronnie Drew changed how people looked at Irish music.We’re not peasants, we’re not losers.
We’re there for a laugh. If the story is good enough, go for it. Have a laugh. And if the music’s good enough, it’s good enough.
The man we’re here to talk about never changed.If Ronnie Drew heard something he considered good, he would try and push the good (band) to some level or someone he knew. Ronnie Drew was, and still is, THE legend of Dublin. Nobody deserves it more, and nobody will ever get it more.
Unless political correctness goes fucking arseways.
Ronnie Drew is a god. Full stop. Problem? Then reconsider where you’re from.
P.S. Irish President Mary McAleese gave commiserations with ‘It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of the great Irish singer Ronnie Drew‘ (RTÉ)
How’s that? Bush didn’t do it last year for Jerry Reed. Will anyone else?
Illustration by Patrick Lynch.
Tags: jerry reed, Mary McAleese, ronnie drew, rory gallagher, The Dubliners
Well said, he was a true patron of Irish arts just because he was himself! He didn’t need to be locked or angry to play well. You got it bang on with “Ronnie Drew was Dublin.”