By Mark Squibb | Sept. 3, 2020
The people of Ferryland knew they had a celebration on their hands.
“Once when Ron Hynes was inducted into the singer songwriter Hall of Fame, we knew we had to do something big here,” said Anette Mooney.
That induction was back in April of 2020, five years after Hynes’ passing.
But, plans for a Ferryland concert tribute to coincide with the induction were waylaid by the COVID-19 pandemic, as were this year’s dinner theatre and Shamrock Festival..
In recent weeks, with the provincial government permitting larger gatherings, the people of Ferryland got to work organizing their tribute show.
The most important piece of the puzzle of course, would be who would perform Hynes’ songs — and that piece soon became apparent.
“We were looking for somebody who was a passionate Ron Hynes fan and knew a lot of his music. And Katie Barbour— let me tell you, she is amazing,” said Mooney. “She’s an old soul. Whenever she heard of Ron Hynes being anywhere, she wanted to be there to hear him sing.”
Barbour was honoured to be given to the opportunity to pay tribute to the man who had such an impact on her own musical journey.
“I grew up listening to Ron Hynes and always appreciated his music. However, in 2003, his album “Get Back Change” really hooked me as a musician and song writer,” Barbour said. “At the time, I was 13 years old, and playing the guitar for five years. However, Ron’s guitar playing style and chords really intrigued me and his lyrics just captured my heart as poetry and storytelling. I started then admiring his style and his writing, and with each new album or new song, I fell deeper in love with his music. I appreciate Ron’s lyrical mastery more than anything. He can capture so many emotions with his writing that has brought me tears, laughter, goosebumps and anger. He was one of the most gifted writers and I’m so happy that he is finally being recognized for his lyrical magic. Something else I really admired about Ron was his identity as an artist; many people had opinions on him and his music, but he stayed true to his art, and he created music that will last forever.”
Initially, a show, limited to 50 people – to meet social distancing guidelines – was scheduled for Friday, August 21, but tickets sold so quickly that a second show was added for Saturday night.
Mooney said that, apart from it being a Ron Hynes tribute, for many, it was their first concert since the shutdown back in April.
“People were very appreciative, and it was a great, great evening of entertainment,” she said. “There was such relief on the faces of the people there… people were so, so happy. And all I could hear was people saying, ‘We should have more of this.’”
Barbour said the show was a rousing success — despite pre-show, COVID jitters.
“The tribute show was amazing. I mean, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel “odd.” The first night I spoke with one of the administrators at the Folk Arts council we agreed that there was almost a nervousness in the air, which made the atmosphere a little different from pre-COVID settings. But overall, I knew people thoroughly enjoyed getting back to getting out and enjoying some live music and other people’s company, safely and by regulatory approval. The show meant so much more to me than just breaking the long stretch of being ‘barred in.’ Anyone who knows me, knows that I admire Ron’s music. So, to be able to do a tribute to him, in our hometown of Ferryland to two sold out audiences, is something that will linger in my heart forever.”
Barbour played three sets, including a number of her own Hynes favorites.
“’Get Back Change’, is one of my all time favourites; this song was my Nan’s favourite Hynes song, she loved it so much I had to make it a ringtone on her house phone. So, that one has become a family favourite,” said Barbour. “Another one that I love is “Dark River” which he co-wrote with his nephew Joel Hynes. This song captured my heart as soon as I heard it; the melody is a waltz and the lyrics are so relatable to small town life and the beauty that lingers there.”
Aside from Barbour’s performance, friend Cyril O’ Keefe spoke to his remembrances of Hynes.
“Cyril went to school with him and stayed at the same boarding house when they were going to university,” explained Mooney. “Cyril would wake at 2 o’clock in the morning and the light would be on and Ron would be scribbling away at his songs.”
Mooney moved to Ferryland in 1975 to teach, boarding with, of all people, Ron’s mother.
“She was obviously very proud of him, and of the work he had done,” said Mooney.
By 1975, the year Mooney moved to Ferryland, Hynes had already released his debut album Discovery, reportedly the first album released by a Newfoundlander comprised of entirely original material.
“Ron came all the time to visit his mom. And Ron was always at our (summer folk) festival, he was a big drawing card for the festival. People came to the festival just to hear Ron Hynes,” added Mooney. “Some people might say that Ron didn’t appreciate where he came from. But that’s not true, that’s not true at all.”
And Ferryland, said Mooney, appreciates Hynes.
“The name Ron Hynes is synonymous with Ferryland. And, Ferryland with Ron Hynes. People well say, ‘Oh, you’re from Ferryland— did you know Ron Hynes?’ or ‘Ron Hynes, he’s the guy from Ferryland!’ Ferryland is very proud of Ron… there is no such thing as a concert here in Ferryland at anytime where someone does not sing a Ron song. You’ve got to have a Ron Hynes song, or it’s not a concert in Ferryland.”
Barbour, meanwhile, said that she would like to see Ferryland honour Hynes legacy in other ways in the future.
“My dream is to one day have something to honour Ron here in our hometown. Maybe a Ron Hynes festival and a site that acts as a monument to point out his accomplishments and maybe some type of statue and bio,” she said. “I know we can do it together, because in the past when Ron needed help during his diagnosis with cancer, I was a proud member of a wonderful fundraising committee; a committee full of love, respect and admiration for Ron as an artist and as a fellow Ferrylander.”
Hynes was the second of five children born to Tom and Mary (O’ Neill) Hynes of Ferryland. He was a founding member of The Wonderful Grand Band, and released seven solo albums throughout his career.
A seven-time East Coast Music Awards winner and past Juno and Canadian Country Music Awards nominee, Hynes was the recipient of a number of other prestigious awards, including an honorary Doctor of Letters from Memorial University and a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
In July of 2012, Hynes was diagnosed with throat cancer, and died on November 19, 2015.
