Ronnie Drew born Joseph Ronald Augustin Drew on the 16th September 1934 in "Beaufort", Glasthule, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin to ballroom dancers Paddy Drew (d. 1984), and Margaret "Peg" Drew, nee Maher. When very young, he lived at 37 Oliver Plunkett Avenue in Dun Laoghaire, and when he was aged 3, his was sent to live with his maternal gransparents at a posh house at Tivoli Terrace, in Dun Laoghaire. At this point, his father became a carpenter, and became (as Ronnie said himself) "a spoiled brat."
He was educated at St Joseph's School, and later CBS, Eblana Avenue, Dublin.