Pete St John

The traditional music legend, whose real name was Peter Mooney, died peacefully earlier today at Beaumont Hospital. He is best known for writing songs ...

Pete had the rare gift of being able to write songs that while new and original creations, immediately assumed a timeless quality and central place in all our lives. It is noteworthy that Pete has left us on the day that Ireland play England in a 6 Nations rugby match, a sport and fixture that has been indelibly associated with his song The Fields of Athenry for decades and the singing of it at today’s match of course takes on a particular poignancy as people throughout Ireland remember Pete." It is hard to imagine a world where songs like The Rare Ould Times did not exist and in his work Pete has left us with songs that not only defined his own career, but those of many other musicians and indeed all of us as a people.

When Irish rugby and soccer fans give a lusty rendition of The Fields of Athenry it is a fitting tribute to its author, the songwriter Pete St. John, ...

He described himself as “a nationalist” in political terms. His most famous song, The Fields of Athenry, was sung all over the world by Irish and international folk groups, including the Dubliners, as well as being used in films like Dead Poets Society and television productions. He never drank again. Although he is best known as a songwriter, he was also a musician and singer in his own right, touring extensively in Ireland, Europe and the United States. “He was a great songwriter and story teller, he was one of the greats of our business,” said Donie Cassidy, who co-wrote the Charlie Haughey election song Arise and Follow Charlie with him, as the campaign song for the 1982 General Election. Best known for what became a sporting anthem, the song was first recorded in 1979 and was a hit for Paddy Reilly. He also wrote Dublin in the Rare Old Timess.

Folk singer-songwriter Pete St John has passed away peacefully at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, with his music leaving an indelible mark on Irish culture.

Pete St John was born in 1932 in Dublin, as Peter Mooney, and originally trained as an electrician. Pete St John was predeceased by his wife Susan and is survived by his sons Kieron and Brian Mooney. Folk singer-songwriter Pete St John has passed away peacefully at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, with his music leaving an indelible mark on Irish culture.