Joe Burke has passed away. Catherine McEvoy has just passed on the sad news that Joe Burke has passed away. My condolences to Anne and family. We always had a chat with Joe and Anne when we met them during Willie Week.

It's sad news, if perhaps not unexpected. He has been a larger than life presence for such a long time.

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My brain hurts

I read the news just a little while ago. Very sad.

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https://youtu.be/ezbWVysJAOY
https://tapm.bandcamp.com/

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My brain hurts

Thanks Peter. I shall try to follow Joe's funeral when it steams live at 1.30 pm (2.30 pm Swedish time) today. Every time we attended Willie Week we'd meet Joe and Anne. They always had time to speak to us two beginners from Sweden. I had no idea back then that Joe also played the flute and owned a boxwood R&R.

I suppose that would be the appropriate thing to do. Joe himself would turn up with Ann at musicians' funerals to pay his respects. I remember playing at Kitty Hayes' grave , Joe Burke standing with Noel Hill and everybody else on the other side of the grave, looking on. Didn't exactly make an already hard enough job easier. The tow bar of my car had a bit of a run in with his Mercedes after Bobby Casey's funeral, I was blocked in a a bit and slipped backwards downhill when trying to leave. No damage done.

I don't know about video streaming funerals, I watched Chris Droney's live, I would have gone, normally. The music and tributes were lovely but it felt strange watching on screen, without the wholke social aspect, as well.

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My brain hurts

I watched the video stream of Joe's funeral service yesterday. A sad occasion naturally. Just Anne, Joe's sister Mary, and a few other relatives. Joe's coffin was wheeled in and put off to one side, not placed in front of the altar. Instead Joe's button accordion was placed on a table in front of the altar. I haven't attended a Catholic funeral service so perhaps this is normal procedure. Yes it did feel strange with hardly anyone in the church, as Joe was much loved, but Anne said some fine words. R.I.P. Joe.