Ronnie

by Ronnie Drew

The late great Dubliner, Ronnie Drew, was six months into writing his biography when he was diagnosed with cancer. He had produced warm, witty and insightful material that made it clear that he was a wonderful writer as well as a great singer and storyteller. With the encouragement of his wife Deirdre and his family, he continued to think about the book and conducted a number of interviews to keep things ticking over until he was well enough to resume work on it. But sadly, much as he wanted to, Ronnie did not get to finish his story. However, with the whole-hearted co-operation of his daughter and son, Cliodhna and Phelim, it has been possible to put together Ronnie's work on his memoir along with his other writings, interviews with Cliodhna and Phelim, a wealth of photographs and other material from the family archive, and contributions from close friends, to create a book that is a wonderful portrait of, and a fitting and loving tribute to, the man Bono called 'the king of Ireland'.

Genres: Music, Ireland, Nonfiction, Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2008

Reviews

[Claire Montrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ronnie Drew was a fantastic person. Ran away from Ireland and dull job at the phone company, went to Spain, taught English and learned to play flamenco guitar. Founded the immensely popular Dubliners, named after James Joyce's novel. He once told a reporter that he knew every person in Dublin. Reporter doubted this. They were on a bridge. The next person who walked by, Ronnie said, "Howya head?" The man turned and said, "Howya, Ronnie." They conversed for several minutes. They Dubliners appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, but never achieved the kind of fame here that the Clancy brothers had, because they refused leave their family for lengthy tours. Book is beautiful and extremely funny. I read this in late 2018, I believe. Then again in 2019.

[Billy Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its tragic that Ronnie Drew died before he could finish this book, the final product is a valiant effort done by his children. The first hundred or so pages are written by Ronnie himself and shows a deeper glimpse into his mind and perception of the world and himself. This leads to an interesting dynamic as all the people who are quoted in the book talking about Ronnie have nothing but the best to say about their deceased loved one.

Drew is very critical of himself and very blunt and honest. Which he admits can be a failing at times. While the contributors generally go with a more positive spin. It led to me having to pick who to really trust and I have to go with Ronnie and his children mostly. He was a very complex man with deep feelings and thoughts and his music still carries today.

The best part is the last 30 or 40 pages where it goes through his one man shows. And the beginning 100 written by him. The other bits were good but it was mostly a collection of quotes, brief interviews, pictures and so on. A good read since I finished it in 2 days. There is a genuine quality to it and I recommend it to biography readers, auto-bio readers and anyone who wants to know about this particular piece of music history.

[Roi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Late in 2006 the dark-brown pebble -dashed voice of Ireland was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. Anyone could think that such a harsh and distinctive deep dark sound had been chiseled after decades of tonsils-polishing with a rusty metal file every early morning.
But both, the gravelly voice and Ronnie's astounding ability to condense the Dublin scene of buskers, ramblers and "would be" poets into powerful stories and songs were the unmistakable result of his love for being out and about, too much smoking and heavy drinking.

Furthermore, that shocking blow came up in midst of his beloved wife's stand against her own lung tumor.
I am pretty sure that hadn't took place all these dramatic events, Ronnie Drew would have never faced this challenge: putting his own story down.

Deirdre died soon afterwards, but Ronnie, encouraged by Phelim and Cliodhna, son and daughter, sort of kept going and supported by the whole clan, gave up porter, gigging here and there, storytelling and writing.
Sadly, chased by the illness again he was unable to complete the task eventually.

That's why this biography feeds on two different sources:
The first third, told by himself,spanning his young years of life, the unquiet odd boy, the marginal, dreamy and unsettled youngster, his trips to Spain and first steps into the music, back in Ireland.

In order to make up the rest of the book, Dad's work was resumed and completed by Phelim and Cliodhna,assisted by Ronnie's band mates, fellow musicians and friends, who compiled a great deal of stuff : interviews, all kind of press features and chronicles, where the own minstrel and his familiar, trade and drink environments talk about the inception of the Dubliners, the key encounter with Deirdre, the life on the road and, especially, the mighty strength that the couple held all along their lives. Their great human value.

Not being a hard-die fan of The Dubliners, I reckon that Ronnie's figure first tickled my curiosity after hearing of his fluent Spanish and legendary gifts and skills displayed in public houses.

All this and much more is poured throughout this book. Once completed the reading you are aware that you've just witnessed the best of the times for an entire generation of people who showed us off how to drain the glass till the end without any hope or certainty of what the future might bring

Only Ronnie himself could have done it better.