Ronnie Drew   •   Discography

• Ronnie Drew
  • Born: September 16, 1934
  • Died: August 16, 2008
  • Dubliners' member: 1962-1974 & 1979-1995
  • 40th Reunion Tour: 2002

Ronnie was born in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, on 18 September 1935. He attended the local Christian Brothers School, leaving about the age of seventeen years. They were not the happiest years of his life. Despite his boy-soprano voice he was not given any encouragement to use his singing talents at school.

An apprenticeship as an electrician was the first of a series of jobs from draper's assistant, to selling vacuum cleaners and typewriter ribbons. He also washed dishes and worked in a telephone exchange. He spent three years in Spain, making a living by giving English lessons.

Ronnie's consuming interest, outside music, is horses and horse-riding. He will ride at every available opportunity and two of his horses have carried off prizes at the Dublin Horse Show. His involvement with horses came about through his wife Deirdre, or rather the stables housed next door to her family home in County Wicklow.

Ronnie married Deirdre McCartan on 21 August 1963. They are now living in Grey stones with their two children, Clioana and Phelim.

source: The Dubliners Scrapbook (1978)

Ronnie Drew passed away on August 16, 2008, at the age of 73, after a year long battle with cancer.