1st April 1933-19th December 2012
Pecker Dunne broke the mold. He was one of the great liberators of the Travelling community and from the Travelling community. He was a fluent conversationalist and his wit and intelligence and expression could transform and transcend any company.
He was always a man who would stand up to prejudice and racism not just on behalf of his own community and himself but on behalf of others. He knew hardship and empathized with the hardships of many others outside of his own kind, own clan and own community.
If the word ‘hero’ applies to anything, well then it applies to Pecker Dunne and his epic life journey. The testament to the man and his artistry, his humanity and his commitment to his community and family are a well-known legend and live on today through his children and his wife Madeline and indeed the very essence of the Pecker himself.
For those that knew him and experienced him, he is part of our living culture. That essence will never die. Like the great Irish legends that were written down in Clonmacnoise, the Pecker Dunne engrained his experiences and his artistry and his music into our society, into our everyday. And we are the richer for it.
Peckers tune, Tinkers Lullaby, written for his young son, is an anthem about the Travelling community. It is a deep lament in the great tradition of lamenting and indeed keening. It is grief stricken but its melody and lyrics are full of hope and love and dignity. Learn it and sing it. From the GAA grounds of Limerick to the Rugby grounds of old Landsdowne road, to the race tracks of Galway, the streets of Dublin and Donegal, and the corners of Ballybunion through fields and encampments, roadsides and halting sites and the grand music halls and concerts venues of America – the Pecker Dunne can still be heard if you care to listen.
Kennedy Wedding, Glandore
The above photos are from the wedding at Glandore, Co Cork (Cuan d’Ór ) in the early 1970tys of a young American couple Miss Shauna Sump Hegarty and Mr Mark Kennedy both from Oregan USA. Pecker Dunne played music at their wedding as he did at many a wedding.
The simple coffin of Pecker Dunne. A burial full of humility and serenity.
Tinker’s Lullaby
Go to sleep my little tinker
Let all your troubles pass you by
For you have no place to camp now
Ah that’s a tinkers lullaby.
Ever since you were a baby
Cradled in your mothers shawl
Society said they did not want you
And now you have no home at all
When your mother died and left you
You had to fend all alone
All in this land of saints and scholars
And still you have not got a home.
Although your clothes are torn and ragged
And your hair is silvery grey
Some day you’ll die and go to heaven
And you will find a camp ground there.
Go to sleep my little tinker
Let all your troubles pass you by
For you have no place to camp now
Ah that’s a tinkers lullaby.
Everybody in Ireland and indeed the world should get to know the Pecker. Listen and learn from his music and become wise from his shared experiences.
Breithlá Shona Dhuit Pecker agus go raibh míle maith agat.
Mannix Flynn 
Reblogged this on The Bogman’s Cannon.
207 Street in Manhattan a block away from The Old Sheiling we met.The guy behind the counter from Galway had no idea what he was saying or who he was.I told Pecker I knew the words of every song he ever recorded. I will never forget that night.
Thanks for sharing Mannix, saw the Pecker in action a number of times a class act.
Off now to hit the share button.
Chris.
P.S. also the follow button.
Reblogged this on Gave the sawdust a shake look what fell out..