A true monument to Irish traditional music, Ronnie Drew (September 16, 1934 – August 16, 2008) is considered one of the country’s greatest talents. With his gravelly voice, he enjoyed a career spanning almost 50 years as a member of The Dubliners, distinguishing himself by his distinctive timbre and his talent on guitar. Although deceased, he remains an icon of Irish culture!
Ronald Drew (Ránall Ó Draoi in Irish Gaelic) was born in 1934 in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin.
As an adult, he discovered a real passion for music. He left Ireland in the 1950s for Spain, where he taught English, Spanish and flamenco guitar.
On his return, he took on a number of odd jobs, but began to surround himself with Irish artists specializing in traditional music.
In 1962, he joined forces with Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna and Ciaran Bourke, three other talented musicians, to create the “Ronnie Drew Group”. The name was later changed to “The Dubliners”.
The legendary band was born. John Sheahen joins shortly after… They then went on to play a series of music sessions in Irish pubs in and around Dublin.
Ronnie Drew has a style all his own: his eccentricities, coupled with his uncommonly gravelly voice, give the band a real identity, not to mention the talent of his acolytes, who are outstanding musicians!
After a career spanning more than 10 years, Ronnie left the group in 1974… Then he changed his mind in 1979… before leaving them for good in 1995.
It was time for a solo career: on the strength of his success as a member of The Dubliners, he tried his luck on his own, recording with some of the greats: The Pogues, Christy Moore, the Dropckick Murphys…
His songs were a hit with Irish audiences. The reviews are positive: for Ronnie Dew, it’s the consecration. Such was his fame that in 2006, he was honored with a ceremony that included his handprints on the Walk of Fame in front of Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre.
Unfortunately, Ronnie Drew tends to burn the candle at both ends. A bon vivant, he is known for his heavy drinking and smoking… Although he manages to stop drinking from time to time, he remains an inveterate smoker…
In 2006, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He underwent treatment and continued his musical career… but died at St. Michael’s Hospital. St. Vincent, Dublin, August 16, 2008. He has since been laid to rest at Redford Cemetery in Greystones.
When he died, the whole of Ireland was in an uproar. Tributes poured in from all over the country, even beyond the borders of the Emerald Isle. His songs are played constantly in Irish pubs, and we challenge you to find an English person who doesn’t know who Ronnie Drew is!
