Barry was a gentleman and one of the good guys
By Maurice Garvey
MUSICIANS will honour the charitable nature of a late friend and colleague, at a sold-out benefit night.
Inchicore musician Barry Prout initially planned a four-day music festival to raise funds for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital.
Barry Prout sadly passed away
However, tragically Barry passed away on December 23, after suffering a heart attack.
Mourning his loss, Barry’s friends decided to host a one-off gig to celebrate his life, at Coffey’s Bar in Inchicore, on Friday, February 23 – a date which would have been Barry’s 50th birthday.
The drummer and songwriter was a well-known face in the local music scene.
“Everyone was and still is devastated about it,” said Damien McElligott, one of Barry’s bandmates in Original Sin.
“He was always at hand to help out any way he could.”
Barry was always talking about raising money for charities
McElligott worked with Barry for over 15 years, who, he said was “always talking about raising money for various charities.”
“When Barry turned 49, he organised a four-day music marathon to celebrate his 50th birthday, scouting bands in local pubs, all in the name of charity for Our Lady’s. He booked bands like Who’s Eddie, made up posters and sorted out a venue at Coffeys Bar. He was so excited.”
On December 23, McElligott received news that Barry, a train driver with Iarnród éireann, had passed away.
“About 8pm that night, I got the word that Barry was dead from a suspected heart attack which happened after his shift. I couldn’t believe it and still find it hard to believe. He was a gentleman, so funny and such a lust for life.”
Over ten years ago, Barry created an album for the Christina Noble charity.
Along with Mc Elligott (singer), Anthony Bonass (guitar), Andreas Durkin (keyboards), Barry also recruited musicians Paul Maguire, Paul Lillicrap and violinist Sarah May Rodgers.
Damien continued: “We had the CD launch in McDowells pub in Inchicore in 2005. Hundreds of CD’s were sold and thousands of euro was raised for the charity. Barry was a member of the choir in Saint Michaels and did a lot of fundraising to help people go on trips to Lourdes and Knock. He was a regular of the open mic night in the Patriots Inn where he would always sing his own tunes. Last year he organized lotto raffles for every Saturday night for the bonus balls again with proceeds going to charity.”
Sold-out gig at The Coffey’s Bar
The Coffey’s Bar gig sold out with “ticket sales alone raising €2,000”, according to Damien.
“On the night there will be raffles to raise more money. The Patriots Inn dedicated the February open mic night to Barry and over €500 was raised for his charity.”
The gig will feature Original Sin, The Group, Anto ‘Elvis’ Farrelly and a Beatles tribute.
“It will be an emotional night as we ring in his 50th birthday. He was a legend – one of the good guys.”
A message on RIP read Barry is “sadly missed by his loving mam Rita, sister Mary, niece Louise, nephew Karl, partner Maureen, brother-in-law James, extended family and a large circle of friends.”
