Liam Clancy (1935-2009) the Irish ballad singer was buried today (Monday 7th Dec. 2009) in the new cemetery, An Ring, Co Waterford. Hundreds packed into St Mary’s Church in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, to raise a parting glass to the Irish balladeer, praised by Bob Dylan as the best ballad singer ever.
Photo: Michael Hussey E-Mail news@youghalonline.com

Fr. Conor Kelly PP said Liam Clancy had a joy of life driven by a belief that it was too wonderful and mysterious to just get through skimming the surface or living in the shallows.

The youngest and last to die of the Clancy brothers, who along with the late Tommy Makem were dubbed Ireland’s first pop stars, had rejoined his bandmates in eternity, mourners were told.

Musician Shay Healy said America had Elvis, Britain had The Beatles and Ireland had The Clancys and Tommy Makem.

Coming from Carrick-On-Suir in Tipperary, Liam emigrated to the US in 1956 and along with his brothers Paddy, Bobby and Tom, became involved in the theatrical scene in New York.

He first emerged as a star as part of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, who played the hugely influential Ed Sullivan Show in 1961 – and never looked back. They became a huge succcess in the US singing raucous Irish rebel songs and emotional ballads – and returned to Ireland as stars. On the Ed Sullivan Show they had worn bawneen jumpers – or Aran sweaters – which became their trademark stage gear for many years afterwards.
Liam was the youngest and last-surviving member of the group. All of the group died relatively young: Tom at 66, Paddy at 76, Bobby at 75 and Tommy Makem at 74.

The film The Yellow Bittern, directed by Alan Gilsenan, and released in 2009, is a fine tribute to one of the great legends of Irish music.

Led by wife Kim and children Eban, Donal, Sean, Andrew, Siubhan, Fiona and Aine as well as sisters Peg Power and Joan Butler, mourners spontaneously burst into song during the Mass as Donal played traditional airs, including ‘Mo Ghile Mere’ and ‘Oft In The Stilly Night’.

There was standing room only in the church as figures from Irish music and politics, including representatives of President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Brian Cowen, jostled for space among the many who turned out for the send-off.

Singers Liam O Maonlai, Finbar Furey, Paddy Reilly and Arts Minister Martin Cullen were also in attendance.

The service was celebrated in both English and Irish, the first language of Clancy’s adopted Gaeltacht home in Ring, Co Waterford, and was marked by music, story-telling and humour. Liam Clancy was buried afterwards in the new cemetery, An Ring, Co. Waterford
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