The Country music scene in Fermanagh has lost one of its greatest champions following the death of Liam Benn.

Mr. Benn (85) died suddenly at home on Swanlinbar Road, Florencecourt on Thursday, December 7.

He grew up in rural Clare and later moved to London where he, alongside his brothers, formed The Benn Brothers band, which was a hugely popular band in the Irish community.

His daughters followed in his footsteps and later formed The Benn Sisters.

Explaining her father’s roots, Mr. Benn’s eldest daughter, Carrie, said: “He grew up in a Traditional music household; music was always [there for] him and his brothers.”

The Benn brothers were active from 1968 to 2008, and was a hugely successful band in London, where the band was a mainstay in the Irish community there, playing church hall dances for three nights every week for 40 years.

This influenced his daughters, Carrie and Leanne. “He just used to get us up singing with him the odd time, and that’s how we got started. He was the music man, not us.”

In addition, Mr. Benn was a student of the famous piper Willie Clancy for many years, and was noted for his voice, explained his daughter.

“He was a lovely singer, and was a great singer, and had a lovely old balance [of music], like Slim Whitman, or the music of the 1960s, as well as Irish music or Country music.”

When he retired from his own musical career, Mr. Benn travelled with his daughters on the road and enjoyed supporting them in their musical careers.

“He was everywhere with us. He used to sell our CDs and help us drive, you know, when he was in his 70s.”

Mr. Benn later opened a record shop in Enniskillen, Diamond Records, in partnership with Sean Loughrey which was a popular destination, especially for music from local artists.

Ms. Benn explained: “A lot of people would know my dad from the shop in recent years, and they’d be in and out, and my dad was so sociable.

“You never got away without a really long chat, and he’d be making tea in the shop.”

Recalling her father’s passion for life, Ms. Benn said: “He’d be coming on Hugo Duncan’s outside broadcasts with us, or coming into shows, and we’d always get him up for songs. He got to have a whole resurgence in a new career when he was retired with myself and Leanne.”

Ms. Benn explained that outside of music, her father had a huge variety of interests.

“He had written three books about old Ireland and his time in various jobs in 1960s London. He spent many hours assisting family, neighbours, and friends with anything they needed; moving house, decorating, fundraising for causes or simply enjoying the chat and being interested in everything anyone did.

“He was a lifelong tea drinker and a member of the Pioneers, and loved nothing more than helping our neighbours with the van on the Swanlinbar road, and walking Roxy the dog in Bellanaleck, where he’d chat to many people on his daily walk around the marina.”

Mr. Benn took ill suddenly at home last Thursday and died. His family wish to express their sincere gratitude to the emergency services for their attendance to Mr. Benn.

Mr. Liam Benn’s funeral, carried out by John McKeegan, took place on Monday, December 11 at St. Michael’s Parish Church and was widely attended, with people travelling from Limerick, London, Kerry, Tipperary and Clare to pay their final respects.

He is survived by his wife, Anne; daughters Carrie and Leanne; grandchildren Liam and Erin; and his brothers, Michael and George, as well as a wide circle of family and friends.