Ray McAreavey: Difference between revisions
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Ray McAreavey was born 1944, in the [[Clonard, Belfast|Clonard]] area off the lower [[Falls Road, Belfast|Falls Road]] in [[Belfast|West Belfast]]. He was amongst the youngest of a family of 12 siblings, including Gerry and Sadie. |
Ray McAreavey was born 1944, in the [[Clonard, Belfast|Clonard]] area off the lower [[Falls Road, Belfast|Falls Road]] in [[Belfast|West Belfast]]. He was amongst the youngest of a family of 12 siblings, including Gerry and Sadie. |
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McAreavey was present during the [[1969 Northern Ireland riots|burning of Cupar Street]] on 15 August 1969 and in 2015 he disputed a unionist-leaning |
McAreavey was present during the [[1969 Northern Ireland riots|burning of Cupar Street]] on 15 August 1969 and in 2015 he disputed a unionist-leaning journalist's "The Pogrom Myth", which blamed Catholic rioters for starting the trouble.<ref>[https://malachiodoherty.com/2009/08/12/the-pogrom-myth 'The Pogrom Myth']. Malachi O’Doherty. The journalism and recordings of a Belfast writer. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> |
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He trained as a French polisher before becoming a teacher. During that time he was involved in cross-community work with schoolchildren of other faiths. |
He trained as a French polisher before becoming a teacher. During that time he was involved in cross-community work with schoolchildren of other faiths. |
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In 1970 he married Colette and they had four children – two sons and two daughters – and nine grandchildren. In later years McAreavey lived in the Malone area of Belfast.<ref>Olga Craig, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1533308/Your-wife-or-your-home-the-choice-facing-victims-of-council-tax-pilot.html 'Your wife or your home – the choice facing victims of council tax "pilot"']. ''The Telegraph'', 5 November 2006</ref><ref>Gráinne McWilliams, [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/residents-groups-unite-against-planning-policy/28404653.html 'Residents' groups unite against planning policy']. ''Belfast Telegraph'', 31 October 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> |
In 1970 he married Colette and they had four children – two sons and two daughters – and nine grandchildren. In later years McAreavey lived in the Malone area of Belfast.<ref>Olga Craig, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1533308/Your-wife-or-your-home-the-choice-facing-victims-of-council-tax-pilot.html 'Your wife or your home – the choice facing victims of council tax "pilot"']. ''The Telegraph'', 5 November 2006</ref><ref>Gráinne McWilliams, [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/residents-groups-unite-against-planning-policy/28404653.html 'Residents' groups unite against planning policy']. ''Belfast Telegraph'', 31 October 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> |
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McAreavey successfully battled cancer on three occasions before being diagnosed with |
McAreavey successfully battled cancer on three occasions before being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the mid-2010s. He died on 8 December 2023 and was buried at Roselawn crematorium on 14 December 2023 after a funeral Mass in St Brigid's Church, Belfast. It was attended by hundreds of mourners who heard him described as a "blessing in the life of so many".<ref name="Irishnews">Suzanne McGonagle, |
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[https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/ray-mcareavey-funeral-of-belfast-folk-musician-hears-he-was-a-blessing-in-the-life-of-so-many-T355NKOVQBAALGJBIWZGJKKBKM 'Ray McAreavey: Funeral of Belfast folk musician hears he was a "blessing in the life of so many"']. ''The Irish News'', 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> |
[https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/ray-mcareavey-funeral-of-belfast-folk-musician-hears-he-was-a-blessing-in-the-life-of-so-many-T355NKOVQBAALGJBIWZGJKKBKM 'Ray McAreavey: Funeral of Belfast folk musician hears he was a "blessing in the life of so many"']. ''The Irish News'', 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> |
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==Music== |
==Music== |
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Music was |
Music was McAreavey's passion. After playing at Butlin's Mosney in the late 1960s, he was a member of the well-known McPeake family, the Freemen, Wolfhound, Pikemen, Blackthorn – with whom he released the "Belfast Marathon" single in 1985<ref>[https://www.45cat.com/record/chew98 ‘Record Details’]. 45cat, undated. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> – and latterly Casey's Crew. McAreavey played guitar skilfully but was known for his distinctive singing voice.<ref>Conor McParland, [https://belfastmedia.com/ray-mcareavey 'Ray McAreavey's "golden voice is now gone"']. Belfast Media Group, 13 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> He has been called an Irish music "legend".<ref>Paul Ainsworth, [https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/tributes-paid-to-belfast-irish-rebel-music-legend-ray-mcareavey-NN226TCPZRCHPERSP5HXE4QCQI/ 'Tributes paid to Belfast Irish rebel music "legend" Ray McAreavey']. ''The Irish News'', 12 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> |
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With the Wolfhound, McAreavey was both a singer of Irish rebel music and a balladeer.<ref>Victor Max, [https://departedtimes.com/2023/12/09/ray-mcareavey-northern-ireland-death-in-loving-memory-of-ray-mcareavey 'Obituary. In Loving Memory of Ray McAreavey']. Departed Times, 9 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> His voice was heard on many singles and albums issued by the groups he was a member of. In 1986, McAreavey also released a solo album, "The Blood Stained Bandage", which contained a number of Irish rebel songs.<ref>[https://open.spotify.com/artist/1i3MKYwgyxZPm8jrC9bM3t 'Ray McAreavey']. Spotify, undated. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> |
With the Wolfhound, McAreavey was both a singer of Irish rebel music and a balladeer.<ref>Victor Max, [https://departedtimes.com/2023/12/09/ray-mcareavey-northern-ireland-death-in-loving-memory-of-ray-mcareavey 'Obituary. In Loving Memory of Ray McAreavey']. Departed Times, 9 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> His voice was heard on many singles and albums issued by the groups he was a member of. In 1986, McAreavey also released a solo album, "The Blood Stained Bandage", which contained a number of Irish rebel songs.<ref>[https://open.spotify.com/artist/1i3MKYwgyxZPm8jrC9bM3t 'Ray McAreavey']. Spotify, undated. Retrieved 14 December 2023</ref> |
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Revision as of 10:42, 15 December 2023
Raymond McAreavey (1944–2023), most often called Ray McAreavey, was a musician from Belfast known for Irish rebel and folk music. He was lead singer of Belfast rebel band the Wolfhound in the early 1970s.
Biography
Ray McAreavey was born 1944, in the Clonard area off the lower Falls Road in West Belfast. He was amongst the youngest of a family of 12 siblings, including Gerry and Sadie.
McAreavey was present during the burning of Cupar Street on 15 August 1969 and in 2015 he disputed a unionist-leaning journalist's "The Pogrom Myth", which blamed Catholic rioters for starting the trouble.[1]
He trained as a French polisher before becoming a teacher. During that time he was involved in cross-community work with schoolchildren of other faiths.
In 1970 he married Colette and they had four children – two sons and two daughters – and nine grandchildren. In later years McAreavey lived in the Malone area of Belfast.[2][3]
McAreavey successfully battled cancer on three occasions before being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the mid-2010s. He died on 8 December 2023 and was buried at Roselawn crematorium on 14 December 2023 after a funeral Mass in St Brigid's Church, Belfast. It was attended by hundreds of mourners who heard him described as a "blessing in the life of so many".[4]
Music
Music was McAreavey's passion. After playing at Butlin's Mosney in the late 1960s, he was a member of the well-known McPeake family, the Freemen, Wolfhound, Pikemen, Blackthorn – with whom he released the "Belfast Marathon" single in 1985[5] – and latterly Casey's Crew. McAreavey played guitar skilfully but was known for his distinctive singing voice.[6] He has been called an Irish music "legend".[7]
With the Wolfhound, McAreavey was both a singer of Irish rebel music and a balladeer.[8] His voice was heard on many singles and albums issued by the groups he was a member of. In 1986, McAreavey also released a solo album, "The Blood Stained Bandage", which contained a number of Irish rebel songs.[9]
In 2019, McAreavey was interviewed for the TG4 documentary Ceol Chogadh na Saoirse which examined the history of songs documenting Ireland's struggle for freedom.[4]
References
- ^ 'The Pogrom Myth'. Malachi O’Doherty. The journalism and recordings of a Belfast writer. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2023
- ^ Olga Craig, 'Your wife or your home – the choice facing victims of council tax "pilot"'. The Telegraph, 5 November 2006
- ^ Gráinne McWilliams, 'Residents' groups unite against planning policy'. Belfast Telegraph, 31 October 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2023
- ^ a b Suzanne McGonagle, 'Ray McAreavey: Funeral of Belfast folk musician hears he was a "blessing in the life of so many"'. The Irish News, 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023
- ^ ‘Record Details’. 45cat, undated. Retrieved 14 December 2023
- ^ Conor McParland, 'Ray McAreavey's "golden voice is now gone"'. Belfast Media Group, 13 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023
- ^ Paul Ainsworth, 'Tributes paid to Belfast Irish rebel music "legend" Ray McAreavey'. The Irish News, 12 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023
- ^ Victor Max, 'Obituary. In Loving Memory of Ray McAreavey'. Departed Times, 9 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023
- ^ 'Ray McAreavey'. Spotify, undated. Retrieved 14 December 2023
