The late Ronnie (Ron) Kavanagh
The death took place on Saturday of Ronnie Kavanagh, Fermoy following a long illness.
It was the early 1970s when I first met Ronnie when he spent some time working with Adva Sign in Vulcan Street at the rear of Cavanagh’s garage along with Brian Clancy, Bill Forde and myself. He was ‘in’ to music at the time but we could never have guessed that he would go on to make a career out of it and rise in the profession to become so highly respected as a musician, actor, historian, singer/songwriter and recording artiste, and that he would go on to play with some of the biggest names in the business such as The Pogues, Sinead O’Connor and Elvis Costello to name but a few.
Ronnie grew up in MacCurtain Street where his parents Joe and Dolores ran Captain Joe’s public house. He took to performing with Brian O’Reilly’s first band The Wizards and later went on to play the lead role in Brian’s musical, ‘The Children Of Lir’ in 1973.
Having moved to England in the late 1970s, he formed his own band Kavana’s Krisis and later Juice on the Loose. As he was now establishing himself, he adopted the stage name, Ron Kavana.
But while Ronnie rubbed shoulders with the doyens of the business, he had great time for performers within the travelling community, singers like Maggie Barry, Pecker Dunne and with Thomas McCarthy who recently headed up the documentary ‘Songs of the Open Road’ as was featured last week on RTE One television. Ronnie was a champion to McCarthy who, in turn, acknowledged the Fermoy man’s help and encouragement when accepting a TG4 Gradam Cheoil award on television a few years ago.
Ronnie took a three-year break from the industry in 1995, enrolling in a full-time Humanities course, graduating with first-class honours in Irish studies and film studies.
Music correspondent Paul Dromey wrote how he was saddened to learn of Ron's passing.
“Ron was larger than life, a kind and generous man, an internationally renowned musician and singer and a perceptive and committed social campaigner. Our world is a poorer place without his presence.”
Brian O’Reilly spoke of Ronnie’s
brilliance, saying he was ‘a gifted singer, actor and musician’.
“It was probably around 1970 when Ronnie came into Loudest Whisper. He had a great voice, he was a great musician.
“I had written ‘The Children of Lir’ and we rehearsed it in the autumn of 1972. Ronnie took the part of Lir, the main part. He was absolutely top class at it. He just had a natural talent. He was a very good actor, a great singer and had a great presence on the stage.”
To his daughter Georgia, his grandsons Matthew, Liam and Cillian, brother Paul, son-in-law Matthew, extended family and many friends, we extend our deepest sympathy. Rest in peace Ron!