Dickie Rock’s son performs heartfelt tribute to ‘King of Cabra’ as showband legend laid to rest

Fellow showband star and broadcaster Ronan Collins, musician and presenter Aonghus McAnally, and former Miami Showband members Murty Quinn and Ray Millar were among the famous faces that turned out to bid the “King of Cabra” a final farewell.

As Richard Rock sang his father’s love song Till, mourners swayed from side to side in their pews in the packed Church of the Most Precious Blood in Cabra West, Dublin, where he grew up.

The opening lyrics: “You are my ­reason to live, all I own I would give, just to have you adore me,” hung poignantly in the cold December air.​

This was, after all, the final curtain call for the 88-year-old showman, who had brought so much light and joy to generations.

Funeral of showband legend Dickie Rock takes place in Dublin

Another of Dickie’s sons, Peter, described him as a “loving, caring father, who gave us everything we needed and more”.

He shielded his family from the public glare, he said. Peter’s voice faltered when he told mourners of his father’s “devastating loss” when his beloved wife Judy, the “love of his life”, died just over two years ago.

“From that point on, he was never quite the same,” he said. “In truth, a part of dad died that day.”

The funeral heard how Dickie had written to Judy when he was on tour. Love letters were read out, including one written in the Hotel Manhattan, New York, in March 1966.

“Dear Judy, I’m missing you already,” it began. “I hate to be parted from you… All my love, Dickie.”

Another letter was written from a hotel in Miami Beach. “This evening I went to see Tony Bennett and I was never more disappointed. He couldn’t sing, or maybe I was expecting too much. I met him after the show.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing you next week, please God. I was just thinking today it would be great if you were here. The sun is no substitute for your beauty.”

Ronan Collins, who had been a drummer performing alongside Rock, told mourners that Rock was born in the 1930s but “was reborn in 1956 when rock’n’roll came to the fore”. “Dickie was the rock and roller. He was the pioneer in the manner in which he performed.”

Collins added: “He used to say, ‘With thanks to the audience, I’m just a fella from the cottages in Dingle Road, Cabra West.

“But he was the ‘King of Cabra’ and he remains so.”

The broadcaster became emotional when he said the pair once had a falling out.

“Dickie and I had a strained relationship for a while,” he said.

“It was one of the great moments of my life when we reconciled because I missed him and he told me he missed me and that we had too much together to walk away from it.

“So, to have been asked to speak today… my friend, your friend, a wonderful father, I am absolutely flattered beyond belief.”

Collins said Rock had been “well known in Cabra and Phibsborough” long before he became a star of the showband era.

He explained how Rock had performed in his working-class hometown as a child. He dressed “impeccably”, as though waiting to leap to stardom.

Mourners heard how, despite never rehearsing, the singer was an “instinctive performer” who went on to amass 20 top-10 hits over 20 years.

His friend, Fr Brian D’Arcy recalled how Dickie had once been a frontman of the Miami Showband. He left the band in 1972.

Just a few years later, in 1975, members Fran O’Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy were murdered by loyalist terrorists in Co Down.

RTÉ’s Joe Duffy, musician Finbar Furey, Adele ‘Twink’ King, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and former TD Donie Cassidy were among those to attend the funeral.

President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide-de-camp Paul O’Donnell.

Rock’s daughter Sarah led readings, alongside the singer’s daughter-in-law Ruth Rock.

Prayers of the faithful were led by Ben Rock, Tony Murray and Mia and Aisling Rock.