féile barney
at Tradfest
banjo barney
Barney McKenna, also known as Banjo Barney, was born in 1939 in the North Dublin suburb of Donnycarney, and worked as a glassblower before his first moves into music.
He initially played with The Chieftains, but in O’Donoghues Bar in 1962, he founded the most influential folk group in Irish history alongside Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly and Ciarán Bourke.
The legacy of The Dubliners is the group’s role in popularising Irish folk music, transforming it from pub music to a worldwide phenomenon, while McKenna is widely credited with redefining the role of the banjo.
His distinctive playing style, coupled with his unique storytelling, enthralled audiences globally, with his extraordinary talents heard on countless tunes, including Black Velvet Band and McAlpine’s Fusiliers.
Although he was never the lead vocalist, Barney occasionally sang ‘I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me’ and ‘I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Everyday’ to his own single-note banjo accompaniment.
He also had a deep love of the sea and seafaring, with his vocal repertoire including nautical ballads, but it was the manner in which he played the tenor banjo that revolutionised the instrument itself.
His technique of playing, known as ‘The McKenna Grip’, was enormously influential and his GDAE tuning was copied by countless banjo players in Ireland and beyond, making it the standard for Irish music.
Only weeks after performing at Christchurch Cathedral as part of TradFest 2012, Barney McKenna passed away, leaving behind an unmatched legacy of musicianship and ‘Barneyisms’ – verbal gems that would reduce everyone present to a bemused silence.
As part of TradFest 2026, Féile Barney will celebrate the life and career of the legendary Barney McKenna in Howth – the North Dublin seaside town in which he made his home.
Barney's Late Brunch - Kieran Hanrahan, Gerry O'Connor, Kaia Kater
Phelim Drew: The Songs & Stories Of The Dubliners
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