Getting into the seasonal swing, ready for Dec. 19th in Dodd's.
Maighreád Ní Mhaonaigh agus a grúpa, Altan, ag am Nollaig anuraidh, 2008
21st November- Oh the wind and the rain
Undaunted by the floods, the brave men and women of the Boyle singers' circle turned out in force last Saturday night.
Clare started with the anti-war "Bramblethorn" by Sarah Daniels, later on, she sang Sandy Denny's "Who knows where the time goes", Across the evening sky all the birds are leaving and still later, an R. Burns song, "Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon".
Two women composers, and that's before taking Helen's and Breege's respective compositions; Helen: "I'm going home, soon as I can, to buy a farm, somewhere around the Plains of Boyle" and Breege: "In Culmeen, near Ballyfarnon", a song about Josie McDermott. Theresa read a poem from her own pen about her father.
Joe from the Sligo singers gave a great rendition of an updated version of Kilkelly Ireland. Where normally you'd be expecting:
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John
[...]
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England, The house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected, A third to a half of them bad.
From Joe we got the email version, Kilkelly Ireland, 2001:
We have a jacuzzi inside in the bathroom
and
[We have] holiday homes in Carrick on Shannon,
Tis marshy, but sure it will do.
So - we finally got to the watery theme. However, Eugene's Dark-Eyed Sailor ended with the encouraging line: A stormy morning brings on a sunny day.
Eugene also delivered up Delaney's chicken - but not quite plucked, boiled or skewered:
So this bird must have been crowing since they built the Tower of Abel (Babel)
He was fed by Cain and Abel and he lived in Noah's Stable,
All the shots and shells was fired in the field of Waterloo,
Could not penetrate or dislocate the tilugated, armour-plated, double-breasted, iron-chested cock-a-doodle-doo.
Delaney might have had need of Eileen's "Brisk young butcher" - Says he "A frolic I will have, my fortune for to try, I will go into Leicestershire some cattle for to buy". She also sang You are the call, I am the answer, and "Willie Taylor".
Brian went from
It's in the evening after dark,
When the blackleg miner creeps to work,
With his moleskin pants and dirty shirt,
There goes the blackleg miner!
to the "Finding of Moses" on Egypt's banks, contagious to the Nile and finished later with Sergeant William Bailey.
George gave us Shanagolden, Lough Arrow's Side and I will an' I must get married, for the humour is on me now. Frank had the Chapel gate in Cooraclare, and Oh don't you know the reason. Tony sang, Oh the prickel-eye bush, The cocks are crowing and My love he left me, ...joined the army and marched away. Clíona, "The next market day", "Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneala" and the "Hare's lament": On the first of November on a bright autumn's day...
Frances and Joe recited pieces, Tommy sang Percy French, and a duet with Paddy on "Hear the wind blow", Breege gave us "Matt Hyland" and Helen a ghost song, for the season that's in it.
Time now to prepare for the next season - polish up your Carols for December.
Clare started with the anti-war "Bramblethorn" by Sarah Daniels, later on, she sang Sandy Denny's "Who knows where the time goes", Across the evening sky all the birds are leaving and still later, an R. Burns song, "Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon".
Two women composers, and that's before taking Helen's and Breege's respective compositions; Helen: "I'm going home, soon as I can, to buy a farm, somewhere around the Plains of Boyle" and Breege: "In Culmeen, near Ballyfarnon", a song about Josie McDermott. Theresa read a poem from her own pen about her father.
Joe from the Sligo singers gave a great rendition of an updated version of Kilkelly Ireland. Where normally you'd be expecting:
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John
[...]
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England, The house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected, A third to a half of them bad.
From Joe we got the email version, Kilkelly Ireland, 2001:
We have a jacuzzi inside in the bathroom
and
[We have] holiday homes in Carrick on Shannon,
Tis marshy, but sure it will do.
So - we finally got to the watery theme. However, Eugene's Dark-Eyed Sailor ended with the encouraging line: A stormy morning brings on a sunny day.
Eugene also delivered up Delaney's chicken - but not quite plucked, boiled or skewered:
So this bird must have been crowing since they built the Tower of Abel (Babel)
He was fed by Cain and Abel and he lived in Noah's Stable,
All the shots and shells was fired in the field of Waterloo,
Could not penetrate or dislocate the tilugated, armour-plated, double-breasted, iron-chested cock-a-doodle-doo.
Delaney might have had need of Eileen's "Brisk young butcher" - Says he "A frolic I will have, my fortune for to try, I will go into Leicestershire some cattle for to buy". She also sang You are the call, I am the answer, and "Willie Taylor".
Brian went from
It's in the evening after dark,
When the blackleg miner creeps to work,
With his moleskin pants and dirty shirt,
There goes the blackleg miner!
to the "Finding of Moses" on Egypt's banks, contagious to the Nile and finished later with Sergeant William Bailey.
George gave us Shanagolden, Lough Arrow's Side and I will an' I must get married, for the humour is on me now. Frank had the Chapel gate in Cooraclare, and Oh don't you know the reason. Tony sang, Oh the prickel-eye bush, The cocks are crowing and My love he left me, ...joined the army and marched away. Clíona, "The next market day", "Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneala" and the "Hare's lament": On the first of November on a bright autumn's day...
Frances and Joe recited pieces, Tommy sang Percy French, and a duet with Paddy on "Hear the wind blow", Breege gave us "Matt Hyland" and Helen a ghost song, for the season that's in it.
Time now to prepare for the next season - polish up your Carols for December.
19 September 2009
Visitors from the Sligo Traditional Singing Circle visited the club on the 19th September as they often do. They're holding their annual singers' weekend on the weekend, 2-4 October 2009, in Sligo Town. There'll be representatives of the Boyle Singers there, along with many more. It was a great weekend last year and we expect that it'll be as good if not better this year. For more details, see the Sligo Traditional Singing Circle website.
15 August 2009 at the BSC
A very full night of songs at the Boylers last Saturday. The night had a beginning, middle and end and then an extended encore! There were men singing women’s songs and women saying men’s rhymes and some singing songs to tunes of other songs. (Make that into a song and we’ll give you an extra singing slot!)
Declan Coyne told us, “For I was nothing to him, Though he was the world to me”, an old song, sometimes called The Sad Song (as if there were no other) and sometimes, The Palace Grand.
Frank was in reminiscent mood:
My youthful days are past and it makes my heart feel weary,
As I sit in the cart in the wilds of the prairie.
Hunting the deer that skip around the beaver,
While my thoughts fondly stray to the Bogs of Shanaheever .
Nora, Mary and Marion were thinking of exiles as well: “Dear exiles all who hail from Boyle”, “The crowded streets of Brooklyn” and “I am a lonely exile” (Cill na Martra).
Eugene was more in party-mode with the Irish Jubilee, and he remembered every last one of the 30 or more verses on the menu. Here’s a taster:
We ate oatmeal till we could hardly stirabout, Ketch-up and hurry-up, sweet-kraut and sauer-kraut;
Dressed beef and naked beef and beef with all its trousers on, Soda crackers, fire crackers, Cheshire cheese with breeches on;
Beefsteaks and mistakes were down upon the bill of fare, Roast ribs and spare ribs and ribs that we couldn't spare;
Reindeer, snowdeer and dear me and antelope, The women ate so much melon, the men said they cantaloupe;
Red herrings, smoked herrings, herrings from old Erin's Isle, Bangor loaf and fruit cake and sausages a half a mile;
Hot corn, cold corn, and corn cake and honey-comb, Red birds and red books, sea bass and sea foam;
Fried liver, baked liver, Carter's little liver pills, And everyone was wondering who was going to pay the bill.
Marion told of a famous greyhound, Mary of a “young cowboy”. George was Down by Lough Arrow’s side. A second from Mary : the Water is Wide and Clare was By Clyde’s bonnie banks, (Blantyre explosion). Breege sang about Willie the ploughboy, Paddy from Elphin sang about The Shady boy, Tony was weeping at 19, Clíona sang Two sisters for Clare and Mary and the Charlady’s Ball to keep with the theme of the Irish Jubilee and the Races at Killadoon (I can’t forget all the thrills I met...). Ronnie Drew’s anniversary was remembered in a rendering of Monto from a visitor to Boyle who saw our advertisement in the window of Dodd’s and dropped in.
I’ve missed a few, I know, and can only mention in passing the matchmaking story, the food story, the driving lesson tale, Percy French, My name is Delaney, a name that won't shame me and a Song for Ireland.
This writer had to leave before the encore, so I can’t say with certainty what happened next. Who could?
Be there next month for the beginning of our FOURTH year. Ó neart go neart.
Declan Coyne told us, “For I was nothing to him, Though he was the world to me”, an old song, sometimes called The Sad Song (as if there were no other) and sometimes, The Palace Grand.
Frank was in reminiscent mood:
My youthful days are past and it makes my heart feel weary,
As I sit in the cart in the wilds of the prairie.
Hunting the deer that skip around the beaver,
While my thoughts fondly stray to the Bogs of Shanaheever .
Nora, Mary and Marion were thinking of exiles as well: “Dear exiles all who hail from Boyle”, “The crowded streets of Brooklyn” and “I am a lonely exile” (Cill na Martra).
Eugene was more in party-mode with the Irish Jubilee, and he remembered every last one of the 30 or more verses on the menu. Here’s a taster:
We ate oatmeal till we could hardly stirabout, Ketch-up and hurry-up, sweet-kraut and sauer-kraut;
Dressed beef and naked beef and beef with all its trousers on, Soda crackers, fire crackers, Cheshire cheese with breeches on;
Beefsteaks and mistakes were down upon the bill of fare, Roast ribs and spare ribs and ribs that we couldn't spare;
Reindeer, snowdeer and dear me and antelope, The women ate so much melon, the men said they cantaloupe;
Red herrings, smoked herrings, herrings from old Erin's Isle, Bangor loaf and fruit cake and sausages a half a mile;
Hot corn, cold corn, and corn cake and honey-comb, Red birds and red books, sea bass and sea foam;
Fried liver, baked liver, Carter's little liver pills, And everyone was wondering who was going to pay the bill.
Marion told of a famous greyhound, Mary of a “young cowboy”. George was Down by Lough Arrow’s side. A second from Mary : the Water is Wide and Clare was By Clyde’s bonnie banks, (Blantyre explosion). Breege sang about Willie the ploughboy, Paddy from Elphin sang about The Shady boy, Tony was weeping at 19, Clíona sang Two sisters for Clare and Mary and the Charlady’s Ball to keep with the theme of the Irish Jubilee and the Races at Killadoon (I can’t forget all the thrills I met...). Ronnie Drew’s anniversary was remembered in a rendering of Monto from a visitor to Boyle who saw our advertisement in the window of Dodd’s and dropped in.
I’ve missed a few, I know, and can only mention in passing the matchmaking story, the food story, the driving lesson tale, Percy French, My name is Delaney, a name that won't shame me and a Song for Ireland.
This writer had to leave before the encore, so I can’t say with certainty what happened next. Who could?
Be there next month for the beginning of our FOURTH year. Ó neart go neart.
Music and song in Strokestown House
The next "Reel thing" concert takes place in Strokestown House,Co.Roscommon.
Thursday 13th August
8pm sharp.
It features the husband and wife team of Martin Quinn(accordion/fiddle) and Angelina Carberry(banjo). Their guests on the night are Patsy Hanly(flute) and Pauline Hanly(singer).
Contact 0906625824 for information/bookings.
Thursday 13th August
8pm sharp.
It features the husband and wife team of Martin Quinn(accordion/fiddle) and Angelina Carberry(banjo). Their guests on the night are Patsy Hanly(flute) and Pauline Hanly(singer).
Contact 0906625824 for information/bookings.
July 18th 2009
Cyril McDermott, who has recently launched a CD of songs telling the tale of his local area, around Elphin, Co. Roscommon, was a welcome guest at the Singers' night. There was a good crowd, with people on their way back from the South Sligo Summer School at Tubbercurry and on their way to the Joe Mooney in Drumshanbo. More came hotfoot from the Glens Centre in Manorhamilton and there was a number of visitors who promised to sing, but hoofed it, under cover of the break and the handing around of the sambos, leaving us in suspense until the next time!
20th June 2009
Oíche dhátheangach at the Boyle Singers on Saturday night, with several singers ag rá amhráin as Gaeilge: Eileanór a rún, Liostáil mé le Sáirsint, Óró mo churachín agus an Seanduine dóite. So much so, that a storyteller was moved to recite a macaronic recitation!
Dár ndóigh, bhí neart béarla ann freisin, with Helen and Breege kicking off the night in great style, both singing their own compositions - and a third singer, with an unplanned display of creativity, sang a unique version of the Newry Highwayman, as the actual lyrics evaded her on the night. SHE shall go unnamed. A wide selection of songs and singers including Tony, Clare, Eugene, Noreen, Frank, Marian, Clíona. Paul made his debut by joining in with gusto on that old favourite, Happy Birthday! Pádraig, Frances and Teresa recited and told stories.
And the songs? Banks of the Bann, Jimmy Murphy, Rosie Stewart's Jug of Punch, Luke Manner, Liverpool lullaby, Mrs McGrath, Maid of Magherally, Maggie, Westlin' Winds, In Bodenstown Churchyard, the Chapel gates at Cooraclare and several more.
The Shannonside Northern Sound Supporting the Arts award was on display on the night.
Go dtí an t-am céanna an mhí seo chugainn, beirigí bua agus bainigí taitneamh as an tSamhraidh - because, for the record - the weather is GORGEOUS at the moment.
Dár ndóigh, bhí neart béarla ann freisin, with Helen and Breege kicking off the night in great style, both singing their own compositions - and a third singer, with an unplanned display of creativity, sang a unique version of the Newry Highwayman, as the actual lyrics evaded her on the night. SHE shall go unnamed. A wide selection of songs and singers including Tony, Clare, Eugene, Noreen, Frank, Marian, Clíona. Paul made his debut by joining in with gusto on that old favourite, Happy Birthday! Pádraig, Frances and Teresa recited and told stories.
And the songs? Banks of the Bann, Jimmy Murphy, Rosie Stewart's Jug of Punch, Luke Manner, Liverpool lullaby, Mrs McGrath, Maid of Magherally, Maggie, Westlin' Winds, In Bodenstown Churchyard, the Chapel gates at Cooraclare and several more.
The Shannonside Northern Sound Supporting the Arts award was on display on the night.
Go dtí an t-am céanna an mhí seo chugainn, beirigí bua agus bainigí taitneamh as an tSamhraidh - because, for the record - the weather is GORGEOUS at the moment.
SESSION COMING UP - Saturday, 20th June
Polish up your vocal chords... Singers' session, this Saturday, 20th June.
16th May 2009
There was a large group present in Dodds on the 16th of May, despite the absence of some regulars, who headed off to the 30th anniversary of the Góilín Club in Dublin.
More than 15 singers sang a couple of songs each and there was an appreciative audience. We've completed a full year in Dodd's now - we moved to Dodd's in May of last year - where has the time... etc.
Breege announced that Shannonside Radio judged the Singers' Circle worthy of an entertainment award in April and she and Helen will be travelling to Roscommon town to receive it during this week.
More than 15 singers sang a couple of songs each and there was an appreciative audience. We've completed a full year in Dodd's now - we moved to Dodd's in May of last year - where has the time... etc.
Breege announced that Shannonside Radio judged the Singers' Circle worthy of an entertainment award in April and she and Helen will be travelling to Roscommon town to receive it during this week.
15 May 2009 - An Góilín Singers Club - Dublin - 30th anniversary
The Dublin singers' club, An Góilin is to celebrate its 30th Anniversary on the weekend of May 15th with Friday night and Saturday sessions in the Teachers' Club, Parnell Square, Dublin.
18 April 2009 in Boyle
More than 20 singers, more than 40 songs! Percy French, The Maid of Knockcrogher, Úna Bhán, Dunnes Storey beats them all; guitars, mouth organ and recitations. An unspoken preference on the night for Roscommon and Sligo songs. See you in May.
Sean-Nós Cois Life 2009 ( 2-5 Aibreán)
Tuilleadh eolais / More information on the Sean Nós Cois Life weekend in Dublin:
Sean-Nós Cois Life
If you're in Dublin this weekend, there will be loads of singing and music at the Sean-Nós Cois Life annual weekend.
Ceardlanna Amhránaíochta - singing workshop
Ceardlann damhsa ar an sean-nós - solo (sean nós) dancing workshop
Ceardlann fhidléireachta - fiddle workshhop
Aíonna speisialta (Special guests) eile don deireadh seachtaine:
Eoin Warner (Beanntraí) ; Ray Mac Mánais (Béal Feirste) ; Nollaig Ní Laoire (An Mhí) ; Úna de Paor (An Seanphobal, Co. Phort Láirge) ; Neil Ní Chróinín (Múscraí) ; Saileog Ní Cheannabháin (Baile Átha Cliath) ; Liam Ó Dubhgáin (Oileán Thoraí) ; Colm Mac Ruairí (Oileán Thoraí)
Filíocht & Agallaimh Bheirte: Joe Steve & Máirín Ó Neachtain (Conamara)
Aoí-cheoltóirí: Aodán Ó Domhnaill (Dún Cionnaola) (Fidléir) ; Rónán Ó Gealbháin (Baile Átha Cliath) (Fidléir) agus go leor eile!
Tuilleadh eolais:
Deirdre Nic Éanruig - 087 262 1537
Antaine Ó Faracháin - (01) 453 8192
Máire Ní Chróinín - (086) 294 0652
Sean-Nós Cois Life
If you're in Dublin this weekend, there will be loads of singing and music at the Sean-Nós Cois Life annual weekend.
Ceardlanna Amhránaíochta - singing workshop
Ceardlann damhsa ar an sean-nós - solo (sean nós) dancing workshop
Ceardlann fhidléireachta - fiddle workshhop
Aíonna speisialta (Special guests) eile don deireadh seachtaine:
Eoin Warner (Beanntraí) ; Ray Mac Mánais (Béal Feirste) ; Nollaig Ní Laoire (An Mhí) ; Úna de Paor (An Seanphobal, Co. Phort Láirge) ; Neil Ní Chróinín (Múscraí) ; Saileog Ní Cheannabháin (Baile Átha Cliath) ; Liam Ó Dubhgáin (Oileán Thoraí) ; Colm Mac Ruairí (Oileán Thoraí)
Filíocht & Agallaimh Bheirte: Joe Steve & Máirín Ó Neachtain (Conamara)
Aoí-cheoltóirí: Aodán Ó Domhnaill (Dún Cionnaola) (Fidléir) ; Rónán Ó Gealbháin (Baile Átha Cliath) (Fidléir) agus go leor eile!
Tuilleadh eolais:
Deirdre Nic Éanruig - 087 262 1537
Antaine Ó Faracháin - (01) 453 8192
Máire Ní Chróinín - (086) 294 0652
The Frost is all over: Drumshanbo: 6/3/09. UPDATE
The Frost is all over
Concert of Traditional Music.
Drumshanbo: Friday, 6th March 2009
Post-concert UPDATE: The concert raised 2000Euro plus.
Thanks to everyone who contributed talent and money.
Concert of Traditional Music.
Drumshanbo: Friday, 6th March 2009
Post-concert UPDATE: The concert raised 2000Euro plus.
Thanks to everyone who contributed talent and money.
March 20 - 23, 2009: Míle MURDER!
'Murder They Wrote’ – Songs of Murder in the Tradition.
The 20th Inishowen International Folk Song and Ballad Seminar will be held March 20 - 23, 2009.
Full programme of sessions, talks and venues here.
When it's not a free-for-all, the 2009 INVITED GUESTS are:
NICHOLAS CAROLAN
DAVE HOY
MAUREEN JELKS
DONAL MAGUIRE
DAN MILNER
JOE MULHERON
EAMONN O DONNCHADHA
MICK QUINN
Unfortunately, due to a family bereavement, PETA WEBB will not be able to attend.
The 20th Inishowen International Folk Song and Ballad Seminar will be held March 20 - 23, 2009.
Full programme of sessions, talks and venues here.
When it's not a free-for-all, the 2009 INVITED GUESTS are:
NICHOLAS CAROLAN
DAVE HOY
MAUREEN JELKS
DONAL MAGUIRE
DAN MILNER
JOE MULHERON
EAMONN O DONNCHADHA
MICK QUINN
Unfortunately, due to a family bereavement, PETA WEBB will not be able to attend.
Boyle singers on Shannonside
A group of stalwarts from the singers' circle were down in Longford on March 13th, 2009, recording a few songs for the arts programme, The Arts Hour, presented by Roisin Cooper, Saturdays, between 5 and 6pm on Shannonside. The songs will be popping up over the run of the programme, so listen out!
February 21st 2009 - Drink it up! Men! It's long after 10.
Burns, Yeats, Kavanagh, Service - all out for an airing the other night at the Boyle singing session. Along with some other heroes: Reilly the fisherman, Alexander, Matt Hyland, Éamonn a' Chnoic, Fair Rosa, Frankie and Johnny. Eugene, Clare, Breege, Tony, Cliona, George, Frank, Francis, Noreen, Seosamh, Joe, and some more Kind friends and companions. The question is, who sang "When I was a young girl..." or even "When I was not but sweet sixteen"? And were they telling the truth?
'Til March then.
'Til March then.
January 17th 2009 - Let the wind blow high
... and it did on the first night of the 2009 Boyle singers' session. There was even a shower of snow during the evening, but the singers were cosy at the fireside while it did.
Some snatches of song heard:
Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low;
I’d feel no cold from the frost or snow
If I only had my Sally-O,
Where the wild birds sing on the mountain.
And the even more romantic:
When I was a young apprentice and less than compos mentis
I took leave of all my senses, with a maid I fell in love.
Her ringlets so entwined me, Aphrodite's smile did blind me
Cupid's arrow struck behind me, and her father owned a pub.
Tra-la ... terrible story of betrayal follows; marriage, to a scimitar wielding-Turk by her, sprints, to avoid being at the receiving end of same curly knife for him, and conclusion:
For there's many things worth trying for and occasionally worth lying for
But there's bugger-all worth dying for, so I'll stick to the single life.
Here's where Andy M. Stewart comes to the same conclusion for the same reason:
See you in February.
Some snatches of song heard:
Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low;
I’d feel no cold from the frost or snow
If I only had my Sally-O,
Where the wild birds sing on the mountain.
And the even more romantic:
When I was a young apprentice and less than compos mentis
I took leave of all my senses, with a maid I fell in love.
Her ringlets so entwined me, Aphrodite's smile did blind me
Cupid's arrow struck behind me, and her father owned a pub.
Tra-la ... terrible story of betrayal follows; marriage, to a scimitar wielding-Turk by her, sprints, to avoid being at the receiving end of same curly knife for him, and conclusion:
For there's many things worth trying for and occasionally worth lying for
But there's bugger-all worth dying for, so I'll stick to the single life.
Here's where Andy M. Stewart comes to the same conclusion for the same reason:
See you in February.
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