Imelda May has announced the death of her father Tony Clabby at the age of 91, saying, "More than anyone I've ever met, Dad was pure LOVE."
Mr Clabby had been admitted to St James’s hospital in Dublin last October and in a social media post early on Sunday morning, the singer said, 'Our dearest father Tony Clabby has passed away on this fine day, the 12th day of Christmas, Nollaig na mBán, Little Christmas, the Epihany, and the day of the Kings.
Our dearest father Tony Clabby has passed away gently on this the 12th day of Christmas, Nollaig na mBán, Little Christmas, the Epiphany,
— Imelda May (@ImeldaOfficial) January 7, 2024
the Day of the Kings.
He was pure LOVE
He "had a great time, it's time to go easy, time to go to Madge"
And true love lives forever ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ji1ckaLycI
"After three sacred days of gathering, holding, laughing, accepting, harmonising and loving he passed gently.
"We are heartbroken but truly grateful. More than anyone I’ve ever met, Dad was pure LOVE. As he said himself only hours ago, he’s had a great time, it’s time to go easy, it’s time to go to Madge. And true love lives forever."
Watch our interview with Imelda and Tony at Oxegen in 2011
Her mother Madge, who was known as 'Queen of the Liberties', died in her sleep aged 94 next to Mr Clabby in November 2021.
The singer also thanked the staff at St James' Hospital. Details for Mr Clabby’s funeral have yet to be announced.
Ms May (49) grew up on Grey Street in The Liberties area of Dublin with sisters Edel and Maria and brothers Brendan and Fintan. She began her music career aged 16 singing in Dublin venues including Bruxelles in the city centre.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment at the Oxegen festival in 2011, Ms May said her dad was "a brilliant singer but unfortunately he only knows one song that he’s been singing for sixty years. Funnily enough it’s called Forever and Ever but he sings it very well!"
Speaking about his daughter’s success, Mr Clabby said, "It’s most strange to us because we could never have imagined this would happen when she was going around into places. She used to go into Parliament Street and pay a couple of musicians thirty pounds and she’s come home with one pound for herself.
"She has worked so hard over the years but also she has a great mind to do what she wants. The record companies can’t make her do what she doesn’t want. She refused to join Universal at one stage because they wanted her to sing covers so she went on the Jools Holland show."
He added, "All the record companies were begging on their knees but she deserves it all because she had worked so hard."
Asked if he missed her when she was on the road, Mr Clabby said, "Awfully. Her mammy cries when she’s away. We used to see her regularly so these times are very special because she’s a beautiful, wonderful daughter and so are all the rest of my children."
Speaking to The Irish Examiner about her father in 2021, Ms May said, "Instead of reading bedtime stories, my dad read poetry to us. He used to act them out. How much better can you get? He loved Pat Ingoldsby, Spike Milligan, WB Yeats.
"He read Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings to me, start to finish. Hans Christian Andersen was a massive favourite and the Brothers Grimm, which was really dark.
"The Little Match Girl was my favourite when I was about six. I used to cry every time. He used to say, `Why do you want to read that one?’ I’d say, `I don’t know. I love it.’ I’m doing the same with my daughter, who is nine years old now. She keeps asking for Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose. The two of us cry at the end of it. I’m passing on the tradition."
Recalling her time spent singing at open mic sessions in Dublin when she was a teenager, she said, "After Bruxelles, there was a nightclub on Leeson St we used to go to. The jam session would go on until about six in the morning.
"My dad would pop along and get me to the bus stop before going to work. I was obsessed with it and my dad could see that. He knew I was happy."
TV presenter Laura Whitmore and musician Declan O’Rourke were among those offering their condolences to Ms May.
Whitmore tweeted: "Imelda I'm so sorry. What an amazing man, and you and your family are his legacy."
O'Rourke, who performed with Ms May at Shane MacGowan's recent funeral, said: "Great condolences for a great man, but the great love affair you all shared is one that will go on forever no doubt Imelda."
Singer Wallis Bird added: "Sending you my heart's warmth. Your Dad looks like he was very lovely and great craic, may he rest easy."
Alan Corr @CorrAlan2
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