Child Ballads
If you get a chance to be in Dublin any Wednesday until December18th, there is a weekly, free concert, of singers singing Child Ballads in the National Library, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Open to all.
November 2013 session
One song which has popped up a few times recently, with different interpretations, is the Death of Queen Jane, a Child ballad (#170).
The song is believed to be about Jane Seymour (c. 1509–37), Henry VIII's third wife - one of only two of his six wives he neither divorced nor beheaded. She gave birth to a son, Edward, who briefly become King, Edward VI of England and Ireland, before his early death in his late teens, when his older sisters, Mary and then Elizabeth, took over. There is no historical evidence for any Caesarian section being carried out on Jane during her labour and Jane was well enough to receive visitors after Edward's birth. However, she fell ill within a week and died 12 days later.
Helen Grehan sang a beautiful version the other night, to a different tune than that usually heard. Daithí Sproule composed a tune for it in the early 70s and this is the version the Bothy Band and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill recorded on their Afterhours album.This is also the version in the new Coen brothers' film: Inside Llewyn Davis, although that film is about a folk singer in Greenwich Village in 1961, before the tune was composed.
The song is believed to be about Jane Seymour (c. 1509–37), Henry VIII's third wife - one of only two of his six wives he neither divorced nor beheaded. She gave birth to a son, Edward, who briefly become King, Edward VI of England and Ireland, before his early death in his late teens, when his older sisters, Mary and then Elizabeth, took over. There is no historical evidence for any Caesarian section being carried out on Jane during her labour and Jane was well enough to receive visitors after Edward's birth. However, she fell ill within a week and died 12 days later.
Helen Grehan sang a beautiful version the other night, to a different tune than that usually heard. Daithí Sproule composed a tune for it in the early 70s and this is the version the Bothy Band and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill recorded on their Afterhours album.This is also the version in the new Coen brothers' film: Inside Llewyn Davis, although that film is about a folk singer in Greenwich Village in 1961, before the tune was composed.
The words to the ballad are (Bothy Band
version):
Queen Jane lay in labor full nine days or more
'Til her women grew so tired, they could no longer there
They could no longer there
"Good women, good women, good women as ye be
Will you open my right side and find my baby?
And find my baby"
"Oh no," cried the women, "That's a thing never can be
We will send for King Henry and hear what he may say
And hear what he may say"
King Henry was sent for, King Henry did come
Saying, "What do ail you, my lady? Your eyes, they look so dim
Your eyes, they look so dim"
"King Henry, King Henry, will you do one thing for me?
That's to open my right side and find my baby
And find my baby"
"Oh no," cried King Henry, "That's a thing I'll never do
If I lose the flower of England, I shall lose the branch too
I shall lose the branch too"
There was fiddling, aye, and dancing on the day the babe was born
But poor Queen Jane beloved lay cold as the stone
Lay cold as the stone
Queen Jane lay in labor full nine days or more
'Til her women grew so tired, they could no longer there
They could no longer there
"Good women, good women, good women as ye be
Will you open my right side and find my baby?
And find my baby"
"Oh no," cried the women, "That's a thing never can be
We will send for King Henry and hear what he may say
And hear what he may say"
King Henry was sent for, King Henry did come
Saying, "What do ail you, my lady? Your eyes, they look so dim
Your eyes, they look so dim"
"King Henry, King Henry, will you do one thing for me?
That's to open my right side and find my baby
And find my baby"
"Oh no," cried King Henry, "That's a thing I'll never do
If I lose the flower of England, I shall lose the branch too
I shall lose the branch too"
There was fiddling, aye, and dancing on the day the babe was born
But poor Queen Jane beloved lay cold as the stone
Lay cold as the stone
Frank Finn Traditional Singing Weekend- 4th to 6th October 2013
The Sligo Traditional Singers' Circle held the Frank Finn Traditional Singing Weekend, from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October 2013, at the Yeats Country Hotel, Rosses Point, Co Sligo.
This year, one of the special guests was Boyle's Breege Duffy. Breege and her brother Hughie gave a talk about Josie McDermott on the Saturday evening.
This year, one of the special guests was Boyle's Breege Duffy. Breege and her brother Hughie gave a talk about Josie McDermott on the Saturday evening.
Another Josie,
Rosses Point is a beautiful setting for this singing fest, long may it continue.
21 September 2013
On the eve of the All Ireland Dublin / Mayo clash, some of the singing was distinctly partisan, with Dicey Riley taking on the Mayo supporters in the other corner.
Poor aul Dicey Reilly she has taken to the sup
Poor aul Dicey Reilly she will never give it up
It's off each morning to the pop
And then she's in for another little drop
Ah, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reilly
She walks along Fitzgibbon Street with an independent air
And then it's down by Summerhill and as the people stare
She says it's nearly half past one
And it's time I had another little one
Ah, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reilly.
We don't encourage that class of thing at all. At all.
Poor aul Dicey Reilly she has taken to the sup
Poor aul Dicey Reilly she will never give it up
It's off each morning to the pop
And then she's in for another little drop
Ah, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reilly
She walks along Fitzgibbon Street with an independent air
And then it's down by Summerhill and as the people stare
She says it's nearly half past one
And it's time I had another little one
Ah, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reilly.
We don't encourage that class of thing at all. At all.
Frank Finn Traditional Singing Weekend: Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October 2013
The Frank Finn Traditional Singing Weekend will be held this year from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October 2013 at the Yeats Country Hotel, Rosses Point, Co Sligo.
A great weekend of singing has been lined up once again by the Sligo Traditional Singers' Circle. This year, one of the special guests is Boyle's Breege Duffy.
The weekend's programme is varied and includes a trip to Coney Island, Breege and her brother Hugh on the Bard of Coolmeen, singing competition for the under 13s on the Sunday, and many, many singing sessions.
See you there.
A great weekend of singing has been lined up once again by the Sligo Traditional Singers' Circle. This year, one of the special guests is Boyle's Breege Duffy.
The weekend's programme is varied and includes a trip to Coney Island, Breege and her brother Hugh on the Bard of Coolmeen, singing competition for the under 13s on the Sunday, and many, many singing sessions.
See you there.
National Heritage Week singing in Boyle Abbey, August 2013
Sing under Boyle Abbey's new glass side aisle.
Sunday, 25 August 2013 : 14:00 - 16:00
Boyle Abbey, Boyle, Co. RoscommonAdmission: Free
Boyle Traditional Singers' Circle present traditional singing in the Abbey cloister.
All singers, storytellers and listeners welcome to sing under the new glass side aisle.
Organiser Name: Eugene Handley
Contact Address: Boyle Abbey, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
Email: boyleabbey@opw.ie
Telephone: 071/9662604
1 August 2013: Arts Week Session with Róisín White
There was a lovely session with Róisín White in Dodds on August 1st.
Róisín led the gathered crowd in an impromtu pre-session session and also sang through a couple of songs with the group, including jogging along to Claudy on the Sour Milk cart.
The scene was set for a very full night of singing with Breege performing the Bean a' Tí role. We were glad to see friends from Sligo and Knockcroghery there as well as visitors from Carrick, Strokestown, Drumkieran and Dublin.
Róisín led the gathered crowd in an impromtu pre-session session and also sang through a couple of songs with the group, including jogging along to Claudy on the Sour Milk cart.
The scene was set for a very full night of singing with Breege performing the Bean a' Tí role. We were glad to see friends from Sligo and Knockcroghery there as well as visitors from Carrick, Strokestown, Drumkieran and Dublin.
Boyle Arts Festival - Singers' night
Boyle Arts Festival - Singers' night
Thursday, 1st August.
FREE Singing Workshop with Róisín White; 7pm-9pm
Singing session 9.30pm onwards
Price:€5
Boyle Singing Circle is delighted to welcome Róisín White to Boyle.
Róisín White is originally from Co. Down. Her style of singing has been variously described as 'punchy', 'jaunty', 'direct', 'no nonsense', 'engaging' and 'seductive'. The majority of her songs (in both English and Irish) are from the northern tradition. She has collected, and made her own, songs sung by many renowned singers including, Len Graham, Paddy Tunney, Robert Cinnamond and her great friend, Sarah Anne O'Neill.
She has two albums to her name: The First Of My Rambles and With Thanks/Le Buíochas.
We look forward to hearing Róisín and all other singers tomorrow night in Dodds.
Fáilte roimh chách.
Thursday, 1st August.
FREE Singing Workshop with Róisín White; 7pm-9pm
Singing session 9.30pm onwards
Price:€5
Boyle Singing Circle is delighted to welcome Róisín White to Boyle.
Róisín White is originally from Co. Down. Her style of singing has been variously described as 'punchy', 'jaunty', 'direct', 'no nonsense', 'engaging' and 'seductive'. The majority of her songs (in both English and Irish) are from the northern tradition. She has collected, and made her own, songs sung by many renowned singers including, Len Graham, Paddy Tunney, Robert Cinnamond and her great friend, Sarah Anne O'Neill.
She has two albums to her name: The First Of My Rambles and With Thanks/Le Buíochas.
We look forward to hearing Róisín and all other singers tomorrow night in Dodds.
Fáilte roimh chách.
April 20th 2013 in Boyle
Dark-eyed gypsies, the military, shot dogs and horsemeat, last Saturday in Dodds.
The Bonny Light Horseman, this version I do believe, (Brian Leahy instead of Phil Callery in this 1983 recording).
The blog writer can't be every where and was absent nearer to where Kevin was singing about: Cavan and Thom Moore's Cavan girl. From around the same time as the Scholar or the Train to Sligo - which nobody sang the other night.
But the most important thing ... Brian and Eileen are back!
Gather up for next month, May, and remember the change of date, for the month of May only, the FOURTH Saturday instead of the third.
The Bonny Light Horseman, this version I do believe, (Brian Leahy instead of Phil Callery in this 1983 recording).
The blog writer can't be every where and was absent nearer to where Kevin was singing about: Cavan and Thom Moore's Cavan girl. From around the same time as the Scholar or the Train to Sligo - which nobody sang the other night.
But the most important thing ... Brian and Eileen are back!
Gather up for next month, May, and remember the change of date, for the month of May only, the FOURTH Saturday instead of the third.
Márta 2013
An lá roimh Lá Fhéile Phádraig.
Slua maith ag an seisiún, mar is gnách. Amhráin as Bearla agus as Gaeilge.
Chan Clíona:
Bhíos lá 'le Pádraig, is mé im shuí i dtigh an tábhairne
bhí cuideacht' álainn lem' ais ag ól.
Bhí maighre mánla, na gcuacha mbán ann
A súil mar an áirne, 's a grua mar snó.
Bhí dís deartháir ann, 'na suí ós cionn cláir ann
A thug searc is grá don réalthainn óig:
Fear súiste 's rámhainne, 's máistir scoláirí
A scríobh a lán is a léigh go leor.
... bíonn a rogha ag an mbean, agus is beag rómánsaíocht atá ag baint leis an scéal - piocann sí
"An téigh gur léir leis, chun tís a dhéanamh,
Is é ba mhéin liomsa 'theacht im threo"!
Agus tuige nach mbeadh.
Ar aghaidh linn go lá Valentín. Beidh an lá sin thart, fán am go gcastar ar a chéile sinn arís, ar an 20 Aibreán, ach b'fhéidir go mbeidh an grá seachas an ghruaim san aer?
Slua maith ag an seisiún, mar is gnách. Amhráin as Bearla agus as Gaeilge.
Chan Clíona:
Bhíos lá 'le Pádraig, is mé im shuí i dtigh an tábhairne
bhí cuideacht' álainn lem' ais ag ól.
Bhí maighre mánla, na gcuacha mbán ann
A súil mar an áirne, 's a grua mar snó.
Bhí dís deartháir ann, 'na suí ós cionn cláir ann
A thug searc is grá don réalthainn óig:
Fear súiste 's rámhainne, 's máistir scoláirí
A scríobh a lán is a léigh go leor.
... bíonn a rogha ag an mbean, agus is beag rómánsaíocht atá ag baint leis an scéal - piocann sí
"An téigh gur léir leis, chun tís a dhéanamh,
Is é ba mhéin liomsa 'theacht im threo"!
Agus tuige nach mbeadh.
Ar aghaidh linn go lá Valentín. Beidh an lá sin thart, fán am go gcastar ar a chéile sinn arís, ar an 20 Aibreán, ach b'fhéidir go mbeidh an grá seachas an ghruaim san aer?
February 2013
February began with Breege singing a lovely version of Matt Hyland. I grabbed these lyrics from Mucat.org, I hope they don't mind.
You can find some more information on it online at the English Folkdance and Song Society, the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library , where it has a Roud (index) number, 2880, as there are so many versions of it. Sometimes the title is Matt Ireland, sometimes Matt Highland, and sometimes Matt Hyland. It's a song that has been collected in Ireland North and South, in England and in the US.
MATT HYLAND
There lived a lord within this land
Who had a fair and lovely daughter
She was courted by a nice young man
Who was a servant to her father
But when her parents came to know
They swore they'd drive him from the island
But this maid she knew that her heart would break
If she should part from young Matt Hyland
Straightway into his room she goes
Into his room him to awaken
Saying, "Arise and go, my own true love
This very night you will be taken
For I have heard my father say
In spite of me he will transport you
So arise and go, my own true love
I wish to God I'd gone before you"
"Ah, must I go," the young man said
"Ah, must I go without my wages
With ne'er a penny in my purse
Just like some poor forlorn stranger?"
"Here's fifty guineas in bright gold
And that's far more than father owes you
So arise and go, my own true love
I wish to God I'd gone before you"
They both sat down upon the bed
Just side by side for one half hour
And ne'er a word did either say
Yet down their cheeks the tears did shower
She's laid her head all on his breast
Round his waist her arms entwined
"No lord or duke or earl I'll wed
I'll wait for you my Young Matt Hyland"
The lord discussed with his daughter dear
One night alone in her bedchamber
Saying, "I'll give you leave to bring him back
Since there are none you style above him"
She wrote a letter then in haste
Still for him her heart entwined
She's brought him back, to the church they went
She's made a lord of young Matt Hyland
@courtship
sung by Jean Redpath, Frank Harte
filename[ MATTHYL
TUNE FILE: MATTHYL
You can find some more information on it online at the English Folkdance and Song Society, the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library , where it has a Roud (index) number, 2880, as there are so many versions of it. Sometimes the title is Matt Ireland, sometimes Matt Highland, and sometimes Matt Hyland. It's a song that has been collected in Ireland North and South, in England and in the US.
MATT HYLAND
There lived a lord within this land
Who had a fair and lovely daughter
She was courted by a nice young man
Who was a servant to her father
But when her parents came to know
They swore they'd drive him from the island
But this maid she knew that her heart would break
If she should part from young Matt Hyland
Straightway into his room she goes
Into his room him to awaken
Saying, "Arise and go, my own true love
This very night you will be taken
For I have heard my father say
In spite of me he will transport you
So arise and go, my own true love
I wish to God I'd gone before you"
"Ah, must I go," the young man said
"Ah, must I go without my wages
With ne'er a penny in my purse
Just like some poor forlorn stranger?"
"Here's fifty guineas in bright gold
And that's far more than father owes you
So arise and go, my own true love
I wish to God I'd gone before you"
They both sat down upon the bed
Just side by side for one half hour
And ne'er a word did either say
Yet down their cheeks the tears did shower
She's laid her head all on his breast
Round his waist her arms entwined
"No lord or duke or earl I'll wed
I'll wait for you my Young Matt Hyland"
The lord discussed with his daughter dear
One night alone in her bedchamber
Saying, "I'll give you leave to bring him back
Since there are none you style above him"
She wrote a letter then in haste
Still for him her heart entwined
She's brought him back, to the church they went
She's made a lord of young Matt Hyland
@courtship
sung by Jean Redpath, Frank Harte
filename[ MATTHYL
TUNE FILE: MATTHYL
January 2013
A gentle beginning to 2013. Boyle singers in good voice and Clare took up the "Twas in the month of January" challenge beautifully.
Nollaig na mBan, 6 Jan session in Drumkeeran
Jim Bainbridge and Jackie Boyce's Drumkeeran singing session will be happening this coming Sunday, 6th Jan. Sing in the New Year in Forde's Pub from 5pm.
15 December 2012
We had a night by the fire, both inside and out. Some Christmas songs in Dodds and some more outside, at the end of our night, singing at the bonfire on the Crescent where the Boyle Sleep Out 2012 was taking place, in the wind and the rain. Fair play to them.
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