Phelim Drew joins Gerry Browne and Mick O’Brien for a rich conversation about family, music, theatre and the extraordinary legacy of Ronnie Drew. For Phelim, growing up around The Dubliners never felt unusual. Ronnie was famous, but he was still Dad. Musicians, actors, writers and all sorts of characters passed through the family home, and Irish music was part of everyday life.
In this episode, Phelim looks back on those years and shares a more personal picture of the man behind one of Ireland’s most recognisable voices. He talks about Ronnie’s early time in Spain, his flamenco guitar lessons and the friendships which helped shape his future. One of the strongest moments comes when Phelim reads from a letter written by Ronnie’s friend Joe Hackett. The letter recalls a young Ronnie sitting beside a river in Seville, unsure about what he wanted to do with his life. Ronnie told Joe he was thinking about becoming a ballad singer. Joe asked him to sing. Ronnie chose Nora. Joe told him to go home and follow the idea. Ronnie left for Madrid the next day.
The conversation also explores what made The Dubliners different. Their sound was raw, their image was unmistakable and their attitude stood apart from much of the Ireland around them at the time. Phelim, Gerry and Mick talk about the band’s rise, their appearances on Top of the Pops and the huge audiences they built across Europe.
Phelim also reflects on growing up as the son of a famous musician. He speaks warmly about Ronnie’s humour, his sensitivity, his instinct for reading people and his respect for musicians trying to make a living.
Gerry and Mick have their own Ronnie Drew stories to share. Gerry remembers playing at a wedding when the bride asked if her uncle might get up for a few songs. The uncle turned out to be Ronnie Drew. Mick remembers Ronnie appearing at a gig in Sandymount and asking his band for a “dig out”. Mick suddenly found himself backing one of the men who had shaped his love of Irish folk music.
Phelim also talks about his own career in acting, including decades of theatre work and around 25 to 30 productions at the Abbey Theatre. That theatre background now sits alongside music in Remembering Ronnie, Phelim’s live show built around songs, stories and memories of his father.
There is plenty of live music in the episode too.
Phelim performs The Good Ship Kangaroo, Red Roses for Me and McAlpine’s Fusiliers.
Before the final song, he tells one of the funniest Ronnie Drew stories of the episode.
The Dubliners were touring Germany. Ronnie suggested adding McAlpine’s Fusiliers to the set. He walked out in front of a packed German audience and confidently began with the words: “’Twas in the year of ’39...” Phelim tells the rest.
A warm, funny and personal episode about Ronnie Drew, The Dubliners, Irish folk music and the family stories behind the songs.
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqF7GEWvT0c
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Produced By Graco Studios:
Website: https://gracostudios.com
Irish Folk Music, The Music Of The People.
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