Ronnie Drew, a founding member of the Irish tribe group The Dubliners, died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. He was 73.
Drew, born in Dublin in 1934, formed The Dubliners in 1962 with Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourke and Barney McKenna. Their songs admit "The Molly Maguires", "Dirty Old Town" and "Seven Drunken Nights". The Dubliners also recorded with The Pogues, and together they had a hit with "The Irish Rover". Drew also released a strand of solo albums.
The Irish President Mary McAleese yesterday called Drew a "champion of traditional Irish music".
She said: "With The Dubliners, he re-energised and refreshed our singular musical inheritance. He brought great pleasure to the people of Ireland and yet more around the world."
Drew's married woman, Deirdre, died last class. He is survived by two children and five grandchildren.
Earlier this year musicians, including Bono of U2, Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan and Sinead O'Connor, released a song dynasty called "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew". All profits from the single went to the Irish Cancer Society.
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