Ronnie Drew

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Ronnie Drew [Joseph Ronald Drew] was an Irish singer, folk musician and actor who had a fifty-year career recording with The Dubliners. He was known for his iconic deep raspy voice, along with supporting a large beard. Indeed, a moustache is referred to as a "Ronnie" due to the Dubliners infamous whiskers. 🧔👨

Ronnie Drew was born in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin in 1934. Although he was so intimately associated with being "a Dubliner", he would sometimes say, "I was born and grew up in Dún Laoghaire, and no true Dubliner would accept that at all!", a quip that Andy Irvine relayed in his song "O'Donoghue's".🏢🛤🚢

In the 1950s, Drew moved to Spain to teach English and learn Spanish and flamenco guitar. His interest in folk music began at the age of 19. When he returned to Ireland, he performed in the Gate Theatre with John Molloy and soon went into the music business full-time, after holding a number of short-term jobs—including one at Dublin's telephone exchange.💃🎸

In 1962, he founded the Ronnie Drew Group with Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna and Ciarán Bourke. They soon changed their name to The Dubliners—with John Sheahan joining shortly afterwards to form the definitive line-up—and quickly became one of the best known Irish folk groups. They played at first in O'Donoghue's Pub in Merrion Row, Dublin 2.🎸🎻🪕🍺