Barney McKenna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barney McKenna
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bernard Noel McKenna |
| Also known as | Banjo Barney |
| Born | 16 December 1939 Donnycarney |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 5 April 2012 (aged 72) Howth, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1962–2012 |
| Associated acts | The Dubliners |
Bernard Noël "Banjo Barney" McKenna (born December 16, 1939 – died April 5, 2012) was a famous Irish musician. He was one of the people who started the well-known band called The Dubliners. Barney played several instruments, including the tenor banjo, violin, mandolin, and a type of accordion called a melodeon. He was best known for his amazing banjo playing.
Barney's Life Story
Barney McKenna was born in a place called Donnycarney in Dublin, Ireland. He started playing the banjo when he was young. He actually wanted to play the mandolin, but he couldn't afford one. So, he picked up the banjo instead!
In 1962, Barney became a founding member of The Dubliners. He was the only original member still alive when he passed away. Before joining The Dubliners, he also spent a short time playing with another famous Irish band, The Chieftains. Besides traditional Irish music, Barney sometimes played jazz music too.
How Barney Played Music
Barney had a special way of tuning his banjo. He used a GDAE tuning on his 19-fret tenor banjo. This tuning is an octave (eight notes) lower than how a fiddle or mandolin is tuned. Many people say that Barney was the main reason why this GDAE tuning became the standard way to play the banjo in Irish music.
Barney was always a huge hit with audiences when he played live. People loved his performances, and he often got the loudest cheers. He was famous for singing songs without any instruments, like 'South Australia' and 'I Wish I Had Someone to Love Me'.
His banjo solos were also very popular. He would play tunes like 'The Maid Behind the Bar', 'The High Reel', and 'The Mason's Apron'. Often, Eamonn Campbell would play guitar along with him. You could often hear people in the audience, or even his bandmates, shout "C'mon Barney!" during these solos.
Another special part of The Dubliners' shows was a mandolin duet. Barney would play it with John Sheahan, and Eamonn Campbell would join in on guitar. Barney often joked to the audience, "It's an Irish duet, so there's three of us going to play it!"
Barney was also known for telling funny stories that were sometimes hard to believe. These stories were so famous that people called them "Barneyisms." His friend and former bandmate, Jim McCann, even collected them in a book called "An Obstacle Confusion: The Wonderful World of Barney McKenna."
Barney's Hobbies
Barney McKenna loved to go fishing. Because of this, many of the songs he recorded with The Dubliners were about the sea and sailing, like shanties and nautical ballads.
Barney is also mentioned in a song called 'O'Donoghue's' by Andy Irvine. This song talks about the traditional Irish music scene in Dublin in the 1960s, especially at a pub called O'Donoghue's Pub.
Barney's Passing
Barney McKenna passed away suddenly on April 5, 2012. He collapsed in the kitchen of his home in Howth, County Dublin. He was buried on April 9, 2012, at St Loman's Cemetery in Trim, County Meath.
After Barney's death, people wondered if The Dubliners would continue their 50th Anniversary Tour. However, the band soon announced that they would "do their best to honour all the concert dates for the rest of the year [2012]."
