"It's An Irish Duet, So There's Two of Us Going To Play It."--Barney McKenna
Barney McKenna was born Bernard Noel McKenna at 33 Clanmahon Road, Donnycarney, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, to John McKenna, an Irish army cook, and Kathleen McKenna nee Corcoran. He had a sister, Nuala, who died aged 4 in 1948 of Congestion of The Lungs, and a brother, Sean Og, who died in 2016. He also has a sister Marie, who is still alive. Barney (as he became to be known) always wanted to play a mandolin and learn it, but he was unable to afford one, so his parents went into Dublin and bought him the next best thing--a Glee Club Tenor Banjo. Barney strung the banjo GDAE (so he was able to play Irish music), and played it around Dublin.
Barney's new interest in the tenor banjo also expanded to other instruments where he became a natural. His father played the melodeon, which Barney later took up, along with later learning the mandolin. Around this time, in 1959, his father, John McKenna died of a Cerebral Embolism aged 56. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Barney became a labourer and glassblower, and joined up with Paddy Maloney to form a little band. This would become the first iteration of The Chieftains. However, this ended after a while, and Barney ended back up in Howth. From there, Barney met a young man called Ronnie Drew, who played the Flamenco guitar, and they formed a duet for a while--they would entertain guests as a warm up act at John Molloy's shows. They also played in O' Donoghues Pub in Dublin. Soon, Ciaran Bourke, a University student studying agriculuture and Luke Kelly, a folk singer, joined them. The band was known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group"--later The Dubliners
In The Dubliners, Barney became one of the people who was central, for almost singlehandedly moving the banjo from a rythymic instrument to a melody and accompaniment instrument in songs. He basically invented what is known as the Irish Tenor Banjo. Barney's fast and quick triplets, mesmerising tunes, reels and jigs became a central part of The Dubliners sound. Deuts on the Mandolin with John Sheahan became legendary, and in the early 1960s, Barney learnt the fiddle with the help of John. Barney was also known within The Dubliners for singing old sea songs and nautical ballads "Fiddler's Green", along with slower airs "I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me" "Three Score and Ten". Barney had no formal musical or voice training, and the fact that he was able to play the banjo with such expertise and sing so well was quite a feat.
Barney was a fan favourite of The Dubliners and was also known for his "Barneyisms". "Barneyisms " are little quotes, words or phrases that are unexpected, funny, witty and unique to Barney. Examples of these include--"I'm trying to fit my room in my case" (The Dubliners were leaving a hotel), "Which one of these is the speedometer for the banjo?" (Barney gesticulates at the various dials at a recording studio desk), and "take me to the big roundy place" (Barney wanted to get to the Albert Hall). In 2015, Jim Mccann gathered various Barneyisms and put them in a book "An Obstacle Confusion The Wonderful Word of Barney McKenna."
Barney was renowned for his genial, kind and gentle personality; which is reflected in the photograph of Barney on the web site, and also through his kindness for animals as well (Barney would own a farm and keep chickens and various animals.) Barney was also a wonderful teacher as well, if you ever had the slightest interest in what he was doing--he would sit you down and show you. That was Barney through and through.
Personal Life
In 1965, Barney got married to Joka Oldert, from Denmark, which Barney described as the "happiest day of his life." Joka died in 1984. Barney also a had a love child with a lady called Helen--Darragh Aherne Clarke (McKenna). Clarke died unexpectedly in 2023. Barney was also a keen fisherman and singer, and at the time of his death in 2012, he was living with Tina Hove, his partner. Barney McKenna died on the 5th April 2012 aged 72, after collapsing in his kitchen. He was declared dead later that morning. Barney's funeral was on the 9th April 2012, and he was buried St Loman's Church, in Trim, County Meath with his sister, Nuala McKenna
Instruments
Barney McKenna
1939--2012
What is Life? What is art? And where the fuck is Barney?--John Sheahan
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