Gavin Ralston • 26 February 1970 – 23 September 2019

Waltons New School of Music

Gavin Ralston, the wonderful musician who worked with the New School for many years, passed away on 23 September 2019 after a long battle with cancer.

Gavin’s boundlessly positive energy had an enormous impact on so many people – his family and friends, the many musicians and groups he worked with, and the hundreds of young people who were inspired by his workshops and teaching.

His enormous contribution to music in this country can be gleaned from a brief sample of the many great musicians he performed, recorded with and produced albums for over the years. As a traditional musician: Arcady, Beginish, Begley & Cooney, Cormac Breatnach, Máire Breatnach, De Dannan, Ronnie Drew, Frankie Gavin, Lúnasa, Dónal Lunny, Dave Munnelly and Sharon Shannon. As a folk/rock musician: Bagatelle, Frances Black, Mary Black, Luka Bloom, Clannad, Phil Coulter, Leslie Dowdall, Kieran Goss, Eleanor McEvoy, Thom Moore, Sinéad O’Connor, Luan Parle, Picture House, Eimear Quinn, Revelino and The Waterboys. Within the theatre world: Michael Flatley, Ronan Hardiman, Charlie Lennon and Colm Ó Foghlú, as well as featuring as a soloist with both Riverdance and the Irish Concert Orchestra, working with Tyne Daly on the Bertolt Brecht play Mother Courage in Dublin and performing on flamenco guitar for Rubato Ballet’s dance show in the Mansion House. And many, many more.

Gavin’s most recent work with us involved developing and facilitating a wonderful series of Songwriting & Music Production workshops for our Outreach Programme that took place in primary and post-primary schools all over Ireland.

Rest in peace, Gavin. You are sorely missed. Our deepest sympathies to his wife Sinéad, children Meabh and Donie and entire family.

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