Although he had been a singer and songwriter since his teenage years, Christie Hennessy, who has died from cancer aged 62, only achieved wider recognition later in life, and with some surprise was awarded best newcomer at the Irish Music Awards at the age of 43. That recognition came after a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, but was more directly due to Christy Moore's recording of Hennessy's song, Don't Forget Your Shovel.
 

Luke Kelly

Luke Kelly was the best folk singer I ever heard. He brought something special to a song and indeed was a very special person himself. I saw him perform over a thousand times and never tired of listening to him. Though many singers aspire to live up to his magic, Paddy Sweeney is the only man who comes close.

Derek McCormack

Friends and fans of Irish music mourned the death  of legendary singer and entertainer Derek McCormack. Derek took ill suddenly while performing on an Irish Festival Caribbean Cruise and died on January 30, 2004 at age 51. 
 

Tommy Makem
 

Irish singer, songwriter and storyteller Tommy Makem, who teamed with the Clancy Brothers to become stars during the folk music boom, has died of cancer. He was 74. I will always remember him as the writer of one of the finest Irish songs ever to be written, Four Green Fields
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