One can’t travel too far down the hockey causeways without coming to a musical intersection.
So it is that Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys, with their hard-hat, fists-a-flying persona have to come be widely regarded as a hockey band, much the same as another group from another era, the Dubliners, would have been, had they come from this side of the Atlantic instead of the other.
In their nearly five decades of existence, the Dubliners gave inspiration and succor to Irish musicians everywhere, from U2 to the Pogues to the Murphys, and were given life by the estimable Ronnie Drew, who passed away of throat cancer last Saturday.
Drew, 73, had a face as craggy as the rocky Irish coast, and a voice that has been described as "coal being crushed beneath a door”.

As Bono once said it, “the Dubliners made all the hardest bands, U2 included, sound like girls. And there was no more male voice than Ronnie Drew’s.”
And that was Ronnie’s rumbling on the Murphys’ track, “(F)lannigan’s Ball”, which turned out to be one of the very last recordings he ever made.
To me, it was in the same league as Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt” by 9 Inch Nails.
I became a fan in the late 60’s. I still am.
The Murphys, who are touring presently in Europe, issued this statement concerning “The King of Ireland”.
“Ronnie was an inspiration to us all and it was a huge honor to be able to work with him last year when we recorded “Flannigan’s Ball” together. He was the genuine article; a talented artist, a humble man and a wonderful spirit. He will be sadly missed and dearly remembered.”
It’s doubtful that Ronnie ever witnessed a hockey game, or encountered much ice save for that found in his “Parting Glass”. But just the same….
Game on, Ronnie. Game on.