Bernard Noël McKenna (16 December 1939 – 5 April 2012), known as Barney McKenna or Banjo Barney, was an Irish musician and a founding member of The Dubliners. He is regarded as a major figure in the development of the tenor banjo in Irish traditional music, and is widely credited with establishing GDAE tuning as the instrument's standard tuning in the tradition.
Early life
McKenna was born in Dublin in 1939 and grew up in Donnycarney on the north side of the city.As a boy he learned mandolin by ear from his uncle Jim McKenna during frequent visits to Trim, where his paternal grandparents had settled around 1920.
Career
Before joining The Dubliners, McKenna played with musicians including Paddy Moloney and Martin Fay in an early group that was later associated with the beginnings of The Chieftains. In the band's 50th anniversary year he performed at sold-out concerts in Christ Church Cathedral, the Royal Albert Hall and Croke Park. He is credited with transforming the role of the tenor banjo in Irish traditional music. McKenna is mentioned in Andy Irvine's song "O'Donoghue's", which describes the Dublin traditional music scene of the early-to-mid 1960s centred on O'Donoghue's Pub.