Vinny Baker

Bluegrass musicians, among many others throughout Ireland and abroad, were stunned at the weekend by news that Vinny Baker of Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, had died following a heart attack - just a week after many had seen him on stage with Bending the Strings at the Athy Bluegrass Festival, in full vigour and clearly delighted at playing again with his old friend, former bandmate, and mentor in bluegrass, George Kaye.

Ray O'Brien's Bluegrass in Ireland Facebook page has made the news widely known online to the Irish bluegrass community, including a link to the notice on rip.ie. Vinny's body will be reposing in St Camillus Nursing Centre chapel, Killucan, Co. Westmeath, this [Monday] evening from 4.00 p.m., followed by mass at 7.00 p.m. Funeral mass will be held in St Camillus's on Tuesday at 11.30 a.m., followed by cremation at 2.00 p.m. in Mount Jerome crematorium, Harold’s Cross, Dublin.

A report by the Westmeath Examiner can be read online here. Vinny's family request that the home remains private; and that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to St Camillus Nursing Centre.