One last packed house planned for Ronnie’s farewell

THEY’RE preparing for a packed house for one last session when Ronnie Drew is buried today.

The Church of the Holy Rosary in his adopted home of Greystones, Co Wicklow, can’t cater for the Christmas crowds, let alone a farewell to a legend, so an overflow facility is being set up in the adjacent parish centre with a big screen to relay the proceedings.

But one group of men are sure of space to say their goodbyes. An area is being kept clear at the top of the church for the last surviving members of the Dubliners to give Ronnie a send-off in the best way they know how.

Already many have paid their respects to the original Dubliner, who died on Saturday aged 73 after a battle with cancer. A steady stream of mourners, many from the world of Irish music, filed into his home yesterday to join his family in the traditional wake.

Some, including Paul Brady, Shay Healy and Phil Coulter, were clearly emotional, as they emerged from the gathering.

A tearful Brady thumped at his heart as he spoke briefly about the last time he worked with one of his music heroes on an album in recent years. “A whole era has come to an end,” he said. “One of the most original Irish balladeers has gone.”

Songwriter and broadcaster Shay Healy, a close friend of Drew’s for 40 years, was visibly upset as he recounted speaking with him on the telephone in recent weeks.

“He left an indelible mark on the [music] industry,” he said.

“He turned a lot of people on to Irish ballads, he reintroduced us to our own songs. I’m just glad to say he was my friend.”

Despite his rapidly declining health, Drew continued to show up at the gigs of his friends over the past weeks to show his support, said Healy.

He said the world-renowned singer and musician was one of the most generous men with his time and company that he knew.

“And that voice. It was unmistakable,” he said. “If you were at the North Pole and you heard that voice, you would say: that’s Ronnie Drew.”

President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Brian Cowen will be represented at today’s funeral ceremony by their aides de camp.

Afterwards Drew will be laid to rest beside his wife Deirdre, who died last year, at Redford Cemetery in the town.