'Ronnie has left his earthly tour for one of the heavens...' Bono has paid tribute to the great Ronnie Drew, who has died aged 73, after a long illness.

'Weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs... that's what I loved about Ronnie Drew's voice and spirit. Music to inspire, to console... an optimism that was contagious... that's what U2 took from The Dubliners.
'Ronnie has left his earthly tour for one of the heavens... they need him up there... it's a little too quiet and pious. God is lonely for a voice louder than His own... then the bad weather will break...'

Born in Dublin in 1934, Ronnie Drew founded the group that became The Dubliners and became one of the country's great musical voices. Earlier this year some of Ireland's finest musicians collaborated on 'The Ballad of Ronnie Drew', a track raising funds for The Irish Cancer Society at Ronnie's request.

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