{"id":9756,"date":"2023-11-22T21:03:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T21:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.webhostlabs.net\/synergy\/?p=9756"},"modified":"2023-11-22T21:03:32","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T21:03:32","slug":"barney-mckenna-biography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.webhostlabs.net\/synergy\/2023\/11\/22\/barney-mckenna-biography\/","title":{"rendered":"BARNEY McKENNA Biography"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heaven will have a Hooley when\u00a0Barney McKenna\u00a0meets\u00a0Luke,\u00a0Ronnie\u00a0and\u00a0Ciaran.<\/strong><\/h1>\n

This article is to commemorate the passing of one of Ireland\u2019s greatest banjo players,\u00a0Barney McKenna<\/strong>. Barney passed this morning 5th<\/sup>\u00a0April 2012 around 11am.\u00a0 The word \u2018legend\u2019 is often misused, but in Barney\u2019s case it is entirely fitting.\u00a0 He was a\u00a0superstar among musicians<\/strong>. I hope you enjoy these ten videos to your right that show Barney as as a\u00a0master musician<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0singer<\/strong>. He had his own sense of humour. For example, when he was singing “I wish I had someone to love me” he said “for those of you who have never heard this song before tonight, this will be the first time”. Barney, we miss you already.<\/p>\n

His family released the following statement: \u201cThe band, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for their kindness and support. Words cannot describe how we all feel.\u00a0 \u201cThe greatest tenor banjo player of his generation, Barney spent his life travelling the world playing Irish music. He loved it. The world loved him. May he Rest In Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barney\u2019s wife, Joka, died 28 years ago. He is survived by his partner Tina, his brother Sean Og and his sister, Marie.<\/p>\n

Barney McKenna was born Bernard Noel McKenna on 16th<\/sup>\u00a0December 1939 and was brought up in Donnycarney (another great north Dubliner, like\u00a0U2<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Jerry Fish<\/a>).\u00a0 His parents hailed from Ulster, both having a strong musical background.\u00a0 Also known as Banjo Barney, his entire life has been involved with music. Because of his poor eyesight, he was turned down for the Irish No. 1 Army Band. He earned his living as a labourer before he met with Ronnie Drew in 1962, following a Gate Theatre show with John Molloy, and was one of the founding members of\u00a0The Dubliners..<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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