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Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Legendary Liam Clancy joins great band in the sky
By Marion O’Mara
THE Aid de Comps for President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Brian Cowen, as well as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, were among the large congregation at St. Mary’s Church, in Dungarvan, to bid a final farewell to Liam Clancy — one of the finest ballad singers to grace a stage at home or abroad.
The youngest of the Clancy Brothers, Liam (74), who had been ill for a long period, passed away surrounded by his family at a Cork hospital on Friday last.
The Mass of Thanksgiving “for a life lived abundantly” was also attended by some of the country’s leading musicians and poets, including Finbar Furey, poet Michael Coady, from Carrick-onSuir, who read from his works during the Mass, and songwriter and composer, Shay Healy, who also addressed the congregation.
At the beginning of the liturgy symbols of Liam’s life — his concertina, cap, a book of poems and a framed photograph, were placed before the altar by members of his family.
The Pall was put in place by members of the family, the cross was placed on the coffin by Liam’s wife Kim and the Bible by his son Seán.
During the Mass Liam’s son Donal played ‘Oft in the Stilly Night’ on the guitar, principal of the local Mean Scoil and wellknown Sean Nós singer, Aine Ni Ceallaigh, sang Mo Ghrá Thú A Tiarna. Other singers included Lorna Murray and Carath Mhic Craith.
The chief celebrant was Very Rev. Conor Kelly, PP, Ring and Old Parish in the presence of Very. Rev. William Ryan, PP St. Mary’s, Dungarvan, Rev. Paddy Creed (retired), Rev. John Kiely, Cappoquin, Fr. Flor O’Callaghan, OSA, Very Rev. Milo Guiry, PP Ardmore, Rev. Paul Waldron, CC, Dungarvan, and Rev. Richard Geoghan, CC Carrick-on-Suir.
It was estimated that up to 1,000 people thronged the Church for the Mass and afterwards accompanied Liam on his final journey to the new cemetery in Ring where he was laid to rest.
Born in Carrick-on-Suir in 1935, Liam was the youngest of 11 children. In his late teens he travelled to America and joined his brothers Tom and Paddy, who were making careers on the New York theatre scene.
In those early days the favoured haunt was Greenwich Village, and in particular the White Horse Tavern and Lions Head.
At one point Liam tried his hand at acting and shared a stage with the young Robert Redford and Walter Matthau. Still trying to kickstart their careers in the theatre world Paddy and Tom, along with another brother, Bobby, were singing part-time.
Liam was also singing but as a solo artist and he only joined his older brothers when Bobby went home to take over the family insurance business. Into the group he brought with him his friend from Co. Armagh, Tommy Makem. As they headed to Canada their mother Johanna knitted her boys white sweaters and one also for Tommy Makem — which became their internationally recognised identity.
Their big breakthrough was a 16-minute performance on the coast-to-coast Ed Sullivan television show in 1961. That led to international tours, including appearances at New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London.
After the Ed Sullivan Show, crowds suddenly began stopping the Irish boys and looking for autographs. The band reworked traditional ballads for an international audience. They added traditional caps and despite criticism in certain areas they went from success to success.
Eventually, however, cracks began to emerge and Liam went on to pursue a solo career in Canada before reuniting with Tommy Makem to form Makem and Clancy.
That too ran its course and Liam returned to An Rinn and became a solo artist. He was still in demand and toured at home and abroad. In his stage shows he was as happy reciting poetry as he was singing ballads, and with his deep musical voice, often reduced to a whisper, demonstrated that he was still an actor at heart.
In his biography Liam was candid about the highs and lows of the life he had led, particularly in the heady days in the US and Canada, and on the road with the Clancy Brothers. Among his many achievements he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick. He lived out his final years in the bosom of his family in Ring.
During the Homily at Monday’s Requiem Mass Fr. Conor Kelly said that not only did Liam live abundantly but through his gifts of music and performing, he helped others to experience that same exuberance. He brought happiness to so many people, that he had to have a reservoir of joy within himself.
Fr. Kelly said, “Liam was no martyred slave to time – he lived to the full all the years that were given him. And now, as he leaves this world behind, he enters into an even bigger story, and into a fullness of life that we can only guess at.”
Fr. Kelly told the congregation, “In his home in Ring, just inside the front hall, there is a long press, and the door to the press is shaped, for reasons that escape me, like a coffin.
Being both a deep thinker, and a man with a good sense of humour, I wonder if Liam did not look at that door sometimes, and think to himself that someday, he would go through death, but death would not be something to be feared, but merely a door, a passage into a new world. And in that world, by the grace of God, Liam is now reunited with his family and friends who have gone before him.
The great band is together again, and the music is fierce, and the craic is mighty. Someday, we will all be together again, and we will know our parts in God’s great story of life and love. We will see our virtues without pride, and our failures without shame, and we will be grateful for those who gave of themselves to make our story joyful and sweet.”
Liam Clancy is survived by his wife Kim, sons Eben, Donal, Seán and Andrew, daughters Siobhán, Fiona and Mary, sons-in-law, his sisters Peg Power, Joan Butler, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-laws, grandchildren Ailidh, Méin, Siúbhan, Finn, Ava, Liadain, Colm and Liam.
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