Obituaries 14-04-2012

Barney McKenna's greatest legacy, aside from the enjoyment and pleasure he provided through his performing career, will be his influence on so many musicians who came after him and have described him as their inspiration. His method of banjo playing, which he devised himself, was one which many attempted to imitate, but his plectrum grip was unique to him. His stagecraft and timing were special, and his ability to add an extra note to a piece added an extra edge to anything he played. It was from his uncle Jim in Trim, nicknamed Felix and referred to by Barney as 'the bundle of fun' that the future legend learned his music. The McKennas had settled in Trim in 1920, when Barney's grandfather, Bernard, from Kingscourt, and his grandmother, Rosaleen, came to Crow Park. Bernard was herd for Harry Kirwan, a significant landowner along the Boyne on the outskirts of the town before it expanded. The McKenna family members were all gifted musicians and dancers. The couple had four sons and a daughter - Paddy, Barney, Jack, James and Maggie, all exponents of instruments such as the accordeon, mandolin, mouth organ, while Maggie was a champion dancer. Jack married Kathleen Corcoran and settled in Donnycarney, where Barney grew up, regularly visiting his grandmother and family in Trim where he spent a lot of his young life. His uncle James played mandolin, by Barney, being a big, stocky lad as a teenager, found the short instrument difficult to handle, and opted to try a banjo. It was to be an inspired choice, as he developed a style of his own, where he discovered he could play banjo in the way you could play a fiddle, a method that the banjo hadn't previously being used much. It was to revolutionise banjo playing, and with his individual dexterity, he created a sound that became so familiar and popular to thousands across the world. He became known as 'Banjo Barney'. Before the Dubliners was formed, he won an Oireachtas medal playing with Donnycarney neighbour Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains in 1959. The Dubliners, initially known as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group, formed in 1962, playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub, Merrion Row, Dublin. The change of name came about because of Drew's unhappiness with it, together with the fact that Kelly was reading Dubliners by James Joyce at the time. The founding members were Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Ciarán Bourke and Barney McKenna, joined shortly after by John Sheahan. McKenna was the last surviving of the original founding members of the group which achieved worldwide fame and was celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Living in Howth, Barney McKenna had a love of fishing and had two trawlers. It was often wondered whether he was a musician who fished, or a fisherman who played music. He also had a talent for spotting a good piece of timber, and often gifted pieces to friends. It was this love of trawlers and fishing which made songs like 'Fiddler's Green' so special to him. His sight wasn't so good in recent years, but his hearing was fantastically sharp. He was also well known for his 'Barneyisms' - expressions of statements he came out with that were quoted long afterwards. His relative, Padraig, from Trim, and Padraig's wife, Els, lived with Barney for five years in Howth, during which time the stream of visitors from well known musicians to tv crews was incredible, Padraig says. He recalls that he might ask Barney where he was gigging tonight. "Berlin," could be the answer, and all of a sudden, he had to be got to the airport to meet the group. Padraig also recounted how Barney had suffered a stroke one time, which effected his left hand, and the strength and dedication he had to recover from that to continue playing music. John Sheahan said in his tribute that he recently discovered a banjo site dedicated to the study of Barney's plectrum hold, the 'McKenna Grip'. Barney hadn't even heard of the internet, never mind the McKenna Grip, Sheahan remarked. "Barney lived in a parallel universe, occasionally touching ours. When he was in Barneyland, you had to tune into his frequency." The river Boyne was always a 'holy grail' to the McKenna family, and over a decade ago, Barney bought a small holding on the Boyne at Donore, Longwood, at The Conabery Lane, where he would spend a lot of time. It was to Trim he was due to set off last Thursday when he passed away at his kitchen table in Howth, aged 72, in the company of his friend, Michael Howard. He has played just the day before at the funeral of RTE manager Dara O Broin. He was predeceased by his Dutch-born wife, Joke, and is survived by his sister, Maria, brother Sean Og, partner, Tina, and extended family including including the McKenna and McCabe families, Trim and the Faulkner family, Navan. The funeral took place from St Patrick's Church, Trim, to St Loman's Cemetery, on Easter Monday, celebrated by Fr Mark Mohan. The attendance included President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina. _____________________________________________________________ Bridgie McClorey, Athboy There was widespread sadness and shock in Athboy following the sudden death of Mrs Bridgie McClorey (nee Cusack), Hill of Ward, Athboy, at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, on 23rd March last, aged 87 years. Mrs McClorey lived a happy fulfilled life caring for her family and particularly her grandchildren whom she loved dearly. She always looked immaculate and enjoyed her weekly trip to the hairdressers. Deceased was a great gardening enthusiast and in particular, took great pride in her display of geraniums. She loved baking on a daily basis and her apple tarts and brown bread were enjoyed by everybody. She was great neighbour and friend to many people. In February, she and her husband Johnnie celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary surrounded by their family. Deceased also had a great interest in sport, and in particular, GAA. She loved to listen to the Meath matches on the radio or watch them on the television, and was known to have said many novenas during the games in the hope that they would win. Mrs McClorey is survived by her husband, Johnnie; daughter, Bernadette Miller, Navan; sons, Denis, Scotland; Oliver, London and John, Athboy; sisters, Betty, Dublin, and Anne, London, son-in-law; daughters-in-law; grandchildren and extended family. The funeral took place from St James' Church, Athboy, to St James' Cemetery. A month's memory Mass will take place on Saturday 21st April at 6.15pm in St James' Church. _____________________________________________________________ Kathleen Smyth, Navan The news of the passing of Mrs Kathleen (Katie) Smyth, Emmet Terrace, Navan, on 25th March last, was met with deep sadness. Aged 86, she died at the Silver Stream Nursing Home, Ratoath. Mrs Smyth (nee Dixon) was originally from Longwood. Deceased devoted many years service to her work in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan where she met her late husband Tom who was working as an attendant at the hospital. Mr Smyth, who passed in 1969, was also a member of Navan Fire Brigade. She is survived by her daughter, Geraldine Gaynor, Woodview, Navan; son, Martin Smyth, Emmet Terrace; sisters, Nancy Masterson, Emmet Terrace; Jane Dunne, Longwood; grandchildren, Keith, Chloe, Daena and David; son-in-law Ciaron; stepson Laurence; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The funeral took place from St Mary's Church, Navan to St Mary's Cemetery. _____________________________________________________________ Rory Staunton, New York The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, joined other public representative and members of the Staunton and O'Dowd families for the funeral in Rathfeigh Church on Monday morning of 12-year-old Rory Staunton, who died in New York following a sudden illness on Sunday 1st April. Son of Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton, the mourners included Rory's uncles, Minister of State and Louth TD, Fergus O'Dowd, and Neil O'Dowd of the New York-based Irish Voice newspaper, and his aunt, Derval Hogan of Skryne, in whose home his remains reposed on return from America. Four days before his death, the young boy had received an elbow graze in a fall while playing basketball. A toxic bacteria got into his system, and two days later he was hospitalised and fighting for his life. He was brought home to Ireland to be buried in the family burial plot in Drogheda. The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Barney Mulkerins of the Society of St Columban, Dalgan Park, assisted by Fr Joe Gleeson, Rathfeigh, Fr Donal Hogan, regional director, Columban Fathers and Fr Dan Cunniffe, also of the Columban Fathers of Dalgan Park, where Derval Hogan works. Fr Mulkerins recalled a young man with wisdom, intelligence and a social consciousness. He had already met President and Michelle Obama at the White House in 2011, and set up a campaign to ban the word 'retard' being used at his school. 'Spread the word to end the word' was his message. Rory Staunton was very mature for his age, often engaging in adult conversations. John F Kennedy was his hero, because of Kennedy's idealism. Rory spearheaded collections for the New York-based Smile Train charity, which provides children with cleft lip and palate surgery. He mixed easily with all traditions and religions in Queens. Gifts in the Offertory Procession included the flags of the country of Rory's birth and his heritage, the US and Ireland, and sands from the beach in Mayo where he played with his cousins. His passport was stamped when he came into Shannon Airport last week, as he would have wanted, his father Ciaran told the congregation. He said Rory was 'never a bystander'. He had already achieved his ambition of flying a plane, even at his age. He had searched the internet until he found a firm that gave lessons to those under 16, and had flown a two-seater plane and landed it. "We now need a pilot more than ever, and you are our pilot, Rory," he said, adding that his son's favourite poem was 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost, and that Rory was now on that road less travelled for one of his age. Mayo native Mr Staunton, who runs Molly Bloom's Irish Pub in New York, is founder of Irish Lobby For Immigration Reform. His wife, Orlaith works with the Irish Voice. The couple have a daughter, Kathleen, and Rory is also survived by his grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. A funeral service took place in St Mary's, Queens, New York, before the repatriation of the remains to Ireland. The funeral on Easter Monday took place from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rathfeigh, to St Peter's Cemetery, Drogheda.