Joe Madden died on Friday, November 14, 2008, five days after a tragic fall at his home. Joe is Joanie's Dad. I first met him shortly after meeting Joanie well over thirty years ago. He was a wholeheartedly nice man and a great musician -- always with the warm powerful handshake, quick smile and abundance of kind words.
I know only too well the pain that Joanie and her family are going through right now. I went through the same thing when my Dad, Jimmy "Horse" Keane, died in a construction accident nearly twenty years ago. After meeting the rest of Joanie's siblings, I know they have the fortitude to carry on albeit with a big part of their hearts missing...
Years ago Mick Moloney asked me and the "Horse," to take part in a Father's and Daughter's concert held in NYC -- we were the token father/son combination to appear on stage along with Joe & Joanie Madden, Liz & Kevin Carroll, The Mulivhill's, Mulhaires, and dozen other father/daughter combinations. It was a great night which the Horse appreciated greatly. It was also the first time that Horse met Joe -- Joanie reminded me that at a certain point the two of them went missing at the venue only to appear later with reddened cheeks from making a sizable dent in the bottle of whiskey which somehow made its way into Joe's accordion case! Two Galway men, an ironworker (Horse) and a carpenter (Joe) who both greatly loved their families and music. And both were very proud that their kids played music too. Rest in Peace Joe (and have another sup with the Horse when you see him)...
Here is Earle Hitchner's Irish Echo article on Joe...
I know only too well the pain that Joanie and her family are going through right now. I went through the same thing when my Dad, Jimmy "Horse" Keane, died in a construction accident nearly twenty years ago. After meeting the rest of Joanie's siblings, I know they have the fortitude to carry on albeit with a big part of their hearts missing...
Years ago Mick Moloney asked me and the "Horse," to take part in a Father's and Daughter's concert held in NYC -- we were the token father/son combination to appear on stage along with Joe & Joanie Madden, Liz & Kevin Carroll, The Mulivhill's, Mulhaires, and dozen other father/daughter combinations. It was a great night which the Horse appreciated greatly. It was also the first time that Horse met Joe -- Joanie reminded me that at a certain point the two of them went missing at the venue only to appear later with reddened cheeks from making a sizable dent in the bottle of whiskey which somehow made its way into Joe's accordion case! Two Galway men, an ironworker (Horse) and a carpenter (Joe) who both greatly loved their families and music. And both were very proud that their kids played music too. Rest in Peace Joe (and have another sup with the Horse when you see him)...
Here is Earle Hitchner's Irish Echo article on Joe...