Music stars pay tribute to ‘inspirational’ Christie
Christie Hennessy, 62, died in a London hospice yesterday from asbestosis, according to his manager Fran Cotton.
The Kerry-born artist wrote some of Ireland’s best-known folk songs for high-profile musicians such as Christy Moore.
The late music critic John Peel was among his fans and brought him to wider attention outside Ireland.
A statement on the singer’s website said: “It is with great sadness that we announce that Christie passed away this morning.
“We just want you all to know how much Christie appreciated your love and support over the years.
“He will be sadly missed by all.”
Ms Cotton said Christie could have contracted the disease from working on various London building sites when he first came from Ireland to England as a teenager.
At night he played music in various London clubs.
Mr Hennessy fell ill around March and his health went progressively downhill in the last number of months.
A statement posted by the singer on his website in October apologised to fans for having to cancel planned concerts.
“I’d just like you all to know how sorry I am that I won’t be able to perform over the next few months, for reasons out of my control, because as you know there’s nothing I love more than performing. As soon as I can I’ll get back to doing what I love to do most. With much love, Christie,” it read.
Born in Tralee, Co Kerry, Christie was the youngest of nine children.
He was 23 when he wrote his first song. His first album, The Green Album, was released in 1972. A number of now legendary Irish artists attained their first number one hits covering his songs, including Christy Moore, Frances Black and Máire Brennan from Clannad.
He composed the theme tune and music for the BBC TV series Get Well Soon and composed and wrote a musical/feature film about his native Ireland — Two Stops to Paradise.
His promoter David Hull said he was deeply upset by his death.
“He was just a much-loved man, warm and kind and it is a terrible loss.
“It was just a privilege to have worked with him,” he said.
Christie was patron to the charity Children in Crossfire.His special focus was on the schools literacy programmes as he was unable to read or write himself.
Following a trip to Kenya with the charity and spending time in the different villages with the children, Christie wrote a song, A Price For Love, the royalties of which are being donated to Children in Crossfire.
He is survived by his wife, Jill, and grown-up children Hermione, Amber and Tim.
Christy Moore, whose number one hit Don’t Forget Your Shovel was penned by Hennessy, praised the late singer-songwriter.
In a short statement on his website, he said: “News has come from London that Christie Hennessy passed on yesterday.
“Most beautiful of men, family man, wonderful friend, writer and singer of magical songs. May he rest in peace.”
Friend Fr Brian D’Arcy, who presents a weekly music and chat show on BBC Radio Ulster, described his death as a tragic loss and offered his condolences to his family.
“We have lost a friend and a man of a great spiritual nature and they have lost a man who they cared for and loved very deeply. He was a lovely man, gentle. I didn’t realise he was as close to death as he was,” said Fr D’Arcy.
“I would have known him going on 20 years and we would have worked together on various songs. At the beginning I knew he had a style very much his own,” he said.
Frances Black, for whom Christie wrote the song, All The Lies That You Told Me, described him as a wonderful human being.
“I can safely say that Christie Hennessy was the nicest man in the music industry. He was such a gorgeous person. He was such a humble man. He always seemed to be so grateful for everything he had.
“He was very grateful for his family, he loved his family. A wonderful singer-songwriter himself and an amazing performer.
“He was an inspiration to a lot of us. A wonderful, wonderful human being.”
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