Exposure to Asbestos in 1970’s London Leads to Death of Irish Singer & Songwriter, Christie Hennessy

Christie Hennessy was a multiplatinum Irish folk singer and songwriter. In addition to performing, he is also known for the hit songs that he wrote for others, including Christy Moore's Don't Forget you Shovel and Frances Black's All the Lies that You Told Me.

Hennessy began playing music at an early age after receiving his first guitar from a family friend. He realized early in life that he struggled with dyslexia and never learned to read or write. When crafting his music, he would often have to replay his recordings many times over in order to complete his songs. He left school when he was 11 years old and began working on building sites in London at age 15.

Though he spent over forty years writing music, Hennessy did not achieve wide recognition until the age of 43, when he won the Irish Music Award for Best Newcomer. It is his work on the construction sites during his early years, however, that ultimately led to his death from Pleural Mesothelioma at age 62.

Pleural Mesothelioma is attributed to asbestos exposure, which were often used in construction in the UK until they were outlawed in 1999. Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of Mesothelioma and is usually fatal within a year of diagnosis.

Hennessy left behind three grown children and his wife of over forty years, Gill Ross. The family won and undisclosed settlement with the London Pension Fund Authority in 2010. "Nobody should have to go through the pain and loss that we have endured because of inhaling dust at work," says Ross.

A statue was erected in Hennessy’s honor in his hometown of Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland in November 2009. At the ceremony, Mayor Terry O’Brien said, “It is a fitting tribute to a gifted son of Tralee who loved his town and brought it international acclaim.”

Hennessy debated his Mesothelioma diagnosis up until the last few weeks before his death on December 11, 2007. When asked during an interview about his views on the afterlife, Hennessy said, “I will be back as I know I still have a lot to learn.”

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