Final tune for last original member of Dubliners

The last original member of The Dubliners was buried yesterday in a funeral attended by hundreds of people, including family, friends and renowned names from the world of music.

A lone piper led a funeral party through the town ahead of Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Trim, Co Meath.

Mr McKenna’s coffin was draped in the green and gold harp flag of Leinster.

Among those paying their respects were his friend President Michael D Higgins, Phil Coulter, Ronnie Drew’s son Phelim, Paddy Reilly and members of the Furey family.

Fr Mark Mohan paid tribute to his life and the impact he had on so many people. “The last few days with Barney’s passing has changed the course of the McKenna life, it has changed also Dublin, Ireland and indeed the music world at large. Barney touched so many and left thousands with happy hearts.”

Fr Mohan said he had made an impression on everybody he met.

“Your stories, your words and your memories are to be treasured.”

The musician was laid to rest in at St Loman’s Cemetery in Trim, the town where his family originally came from. He had been planning to return to the town last Thursday when he died at home in Howth, north Dublin.

The renowned banjo player was the last remaining member of the original line-up of The Dubliners, celebrated worldwide for their revival of Irish folk songs, their raucous sound and their hell-raising. A memorial table was laid out during the service with his love of music and fishing remembered with a model boat, a flat cap, a photograph, and an accordion, a mandolin and a banjo.

He is survived by his partner Tina, sister Maria Fuller and his brother Seán Óg McKenna.

One of his last public performances was the day before he died when he played the song Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí at the funeral of RTÉ floor manager Dara Ó Bróin in Dublin. As expected, music made up a large part of the service with reels including Fermoy Lassies and the Boyne Hunt and songs McKenna had made his own such as Fiddler’s Green and Someone To Love Me.

Playing to the very end, he was among the latest line-up of The Dubliners, who recently finished a 12-gig British leg of their 50th anniversary tour. Their two homecoming concerts sold out at Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral in January. Other late founding members Ronnie Drew, Ciarán Bourke and Luke Kelly, were remembered at the gigs.

Hundreds of mourners also lined the streets outside the church and applauded as though to the beat of music as the coffin was brought out.