Ronnie says farewell to his beloved wife

BANJOS and ballads, laments and love songs filled the church where Ronnie Drew said farewell in the only way he knew how to the woman who kept him in tune.

“I’m a little bit full-up,” Ronnie said apologetically as he stood before the overflowing congregation to speak of the beloved wife with whom he had almost 44 years of married life and just six cruelly short weeks to prepare for her leaving.

No apology was needed. The legendary music man, who was himself recovering from treatment for cancer when Deirdre discovered she too had the illness, had just lost the woman who had cared for him, as he put it, to a “ridiculous” extent.