Legendary singer Ronnie Drew, founder of quintessential Irish Traditional band The Dubliners, dies at age 73

I was saddened to learn that after two years fighting against cancer, Ronnie Drew died today in Dublin.

A new generation of the Irish Diaspora and their offspring became Dubliners fans when they teamed with London-Irish band The Pogues to record The Irish Rover in 1987. Would you ever think that a group of “old” bearded men singing folk songs could rock out with a London-Irish punk-trad band and people would like it? Well people did. The gravelly-voiced Drew was a perfect complement to the gravelly-soulful Shane MacGowan and the collaboration led to a friendship between Ronnie and the band that lasted to this day.

The Pogues have posted a statement saying

We’d like to add our voices of sorrow to the many others in Irish and international music and theatre on the death of our friend, inspiration and sometime colleague Ronnie Drew, who died in Dublin today, aged 73. As was well known, Ronnie had been living with cancer for some time.

When, as a member of The Dubliners, Ronnie and ourselves joined forces for the single “The Irish Rover” in 1987, we could not know this happy combination would turn out to be a lifelong bond of friendship and support. We’re glad of it.

He was unique. We’ll miss him terribly. Dublin town just got smaller.

His family and close friends are in our thoughts.

One of my favorite songs Ronnie ever did was an a capella version of a song called “The Dunes” written by Shane; Ronnie performed it at the very end of the BBC bio on Shane (“The Great Hunger”). Apparently Ronnie was going to be in the studio and asked Shane if he had anything he might do and this what was sent over. I’ve not heard Shane ever sing this but I am not sure I need to. To me it will always be Ronnie’s song. Can you not picture him walking alone on a gray and rainy windswept beach, with the sea crashing in the background, beard whipping around, as he sings such poignant and painful words with that distinctive accented baritone and wonders how to make sense of it all?

Here’s to you, Ronnie. You’ll not be soon forgotten.