Ciaran Bourke
Encyclopedia
Ciarán Bourke was an Irish musician and one of the original founding members of the Irish
folk band The Dubliners
.
. His father, a doctor, was in practice in the City. The children had an Irish-speaking nanny. Ciarán's early exposure to his native tongue was continued throughout his education, attending Colaiste Mhuire, Parnell Square, Dublin. He later attended University College Dublin
for a course in Agricultural Science. He did not take his degree but always retained an interest in farming.
, Ronnie Drew
and Barney McKenna
who invited Ciarán to join their sessions in O'Donoghue's Pub
, where he played tin whistle, mouth organ, guitar and sang. Luke Kelly
, who had been singing around the clubs in England, returned to Dublin and the four gained local popularity. Then known as The Dubliners, the group put together the first folk concert of its kind in Dublin. The concert was a success, then a theatrical production called “A Ballad Tour of Ireland” was put on at the Gate Theatre shortly afterwards.
Ciarán was responsible for bringing a Gaelic element to The Dubliners' music with songs such as "Peggy Lettermore" and "Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha" being performed in the Irish language. He also sang a number of the group's more lighthearted and humorous numbers such as "Jar of Porter", "The Dublin Fusiliers", "The Limerick Rake", "Mrs. McGrath", "Darby O'Leary", "All For Me Grog" and "The Ballad of Ronnie's Mare", as well as patriotic songs such as "Roddy McCorley", "The Enniskillen Dragoons", "Take It Down From The Mast" and "Henry Joy".
Ciarán received intensive therapy, attending a clinic in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. He was heartened by his progress and insisted on rejoining the Dubliners on their next tour of the Continent in November that year.
Ciarán's continued insistence that he was fit enough to join them on the forthcoming German tour caused them considerable disquiet. They preferred he ease himself back to work, with a few small shows in Ireland. The tour gradually began to take its toll on Ciarán, and it was decided that for the sake of his health he should return home. He flew from Brussels to Dublin.
From 1974, until his death in 1988, Ciarán still was paid by the band. A fifth member of the band was not recruited until after Ciarán's death.
Ciarán Bourke died on May 10, 1988 following long illness.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
folk band The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
.
Early life
Ciarán Bourke was born in Dublin on 18 February 1935, but lived most of his life in Tibradden, County DublinCounty Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. His father, a doctor, was in practice in the City. The children had an Irish-speaking nanny. Ciarán's early exposure to his native tongue was continued throughout his education, attending Colaiste Mhuire, Parnell Square, Dublin. He later attended University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
for a course in Agricultural Science. He did not take his degree but always retained an interest in farming.
The Dubliners
After leaving university, he met his future bandmates in The DublinersThe Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
, Ronnie Drew
Ronnie Drew
Joseph Ronald "Ronnie" Drew was an Irish singer and folk musician who achieved international fame during a fifty-year career recording with The Dubliners. He was born in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin...
and Barney McKenna
Barney McKenna
Bernard Noël "Barney" McKenna or Banjo Barney as he is known amongst his fellow musicians, is an Irish musician who plays the tenor banjo, mandolin, and melodeon. He is most renowned as a banjo player...
who invited Ciarán to join their sessions in O'Donoghue's Pub
O'Donoghue's Pub
O’Donoghue’s Pub is a historically significant drinking establishment located near St. Stephen's Green on Dublin’s south side. Built in 1789 as a grocery store, in 1934 it began operating full-time as a pub when purchased by the O’Donoghue family....
, where he played tin whistle, mouth organ, guitar and sang. Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly was an Irish singer and folk musician from Dublin, Ireland, notable as a founding member of the band The Dubliners.-Early life:...
, who had been singing around the clubs in England, returned to Dublin and the four gained local popularity. Then known as The Dubliners, the group put together the first folk concert of its kind in Dublin. The concert was a success, then a theatrical production called “A Ballad Tour of Ireland” was put on at the Gate Theatre shortly afterwards.
Ciarán was responsible for bringing a Gaelic element to The Dubliners' music with songs such as "Peggy Lettermore" and "Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha" being performed in the Irish language. He also sang a number of the group's more lighthearted and humorous numbers such as "Jar of Porter", "The Dublin Fusiliers", "The Limerick Rake", "Mrs. McGrath", "Darby O'Leary", "All For Me Grog" and "The Ballad of Ronnie's Mare", as well as patriotic songs such as "Roddy McCorley", "The Enniskillen Dragoons", "Take It Down From The Mast" and "Henry Joy".
Declining health and death
On 5 April 1974, The Dubliners travelled down to Eastbourne where they were appearing in concert. Luke was worried by the way Ciarán kept moving his head about, as if trying to alleviate increasing pain. Four minutes into the second half, it was decided he could not continue with the show. Luke insisted that a doctor should be phoned and instructed to await their return to the Irish Club at Eaton Square. The roadie for the trip, John Corry, thought that it was better to drive straight to St. George's Hospital at Hyde Park Corner, where the doctors diagnosed a brain aneurysm. Ciarán was transferred to the Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon, while doctors waited for his wife to return from a trip to Ghana, to get her signature before operating. She was told that there was danger of further hemorrhaging. Ciarán was operated on at the earliest opportunity. The bleeding began again while he was on the table which meant that they could not repair the damage, just staunch the bleeding. This left him paralysed down his left side and confused as to where he was and what had happened.Ciarán received intensive therapy, attending a clinic in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. He was heartened by his progress and insisted on rejoining the Dubliners on their next tour of the Continent in November that year.
Ciarán's continued insistence that he was fit enough to join them on the forthcoming German tour caused them considerable disquiet. They preferred he ease himself back to work, with a few small shows in Ireland. The tour gradually began to take its toll on Ciarán, and it was decided that for the sake of his health he should return home. He flew from Brussels to Dublin.
From 1974, until his death in 1988, Ciarán still was paid by the band. A fifth member of the band was not recruited until after Ciarán's death.
Ciarán Bourke died on May 10, 1988 following long illness.