Barry McKenna, the last member of the original lineup of the Dubliners, has passed away at the age of 72. A friend reported that he was having morning tea with McKenna when Barry's head just fell to his chest.
McKenna, known as one of the great banjo players in Irish music, started playing the instrument at an early age in lieu of his chosen but more expensive instrument, the mandolin. He helped form the Dubliners, originally called The Ronnie Drew Band, in Dublin with Drew, Luke Kelly and Ciarán Bourke.
The Dubliners got their professional break when they appeared at the 1963 Edinburgh Festival, leading to a stint on the BBC program Hootenanny. They soon signed with Transatlantic Records which released their first album, The Dubliners, in 1964. Through their recordings and concerts, McKenna became known for his performances of sea shanties and love songs. He was also known for his story telling, also known as Barneyisms.
McKenna was in the middle of celebrating his 50th year with the group when he died. He had previously seen the passing of Kelly in 1984, Bourke in 1988 and Drew in 2008.
He is survived by his partner Tina, a sister and a brother.
