Ag dul ó neart go neart. We have reached the end of the second year of the Boyle Singers' Session and we're heading into the third with a session that is growing and growing, reaching epic proportions at times, maybe? Like Alexander?
When he had conquered the whole world, he sat down and wept full sore
Because there was but one world, and he could gain no more
Rambles galore the other night, some to the Shores of Amerikay; others, like the Poachers, to Van Dieman's land: Come all you gallant poachers who ramble by Lough Erne; and beyond, Far away from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle .
From the 600 yr old Child ballad, The Unquiet Grave, to a 70 yr old lyric, Joe Hill, along with Siúl a Rún, Robert Louis Stevenson, John Reilly's Captain, and The Shores of Lough Bran.
Davey Hammond, RIP, was remembered with Fair Rosa was a lovely child...
Davey Hammond on YouTube:
Next Boyle Singers' Session - 20th Sept. 2008
That's it! It's official. Our long, not-so-hot Summer is over. Spirits undampened however, the Boyle Singers' session will continue with its usual high notes this Saturday coming.
See you all at Dodd's on the Crescent in Boyle. 10-ish...
See you all at Dodd's on the Crescent in Boyle. 10-ish...
August 16th, 2008 ... Streams of ... consciousness
Deep and secret glen in Aghadoe, I’m crazy for feeling so blue, Shall I ne’er see you more, Gentle mother, In the fields where the wild flowers grow, Donal Og, Molly Bawn, Wexford massacre, a Johnny McEvoy number... he was never there when needed, he’d just smile n say sorry, no need to worry gonna meet sum friends drink some beer 'n fight the war... Sorry the day I was married, (duet from a happily married couple),Red is the rose had everyone joining in. Recitation 'bout the weather -- very apt.
Sadly, tonight was also the night we heard that Ronnie Drew had passed away. May he rest in peace.
Sadly, tonight was also the night we heard that Ronnie Drew had passed away. May he rest in peace.
July 19th 2008: Singing sweetly and completely...
The Singers' session continues to grow and grow. We had over 30 songs last Singers' night. Regulars and newcomers sang up and those who didn't, listened.
There was Me name is Dick Darby, I'm a cobbler ..., "Willie the Ploughboy" and "Blue tar road". Nanci Griffith's song "It's a hard life wherever you go" was given an excellent outing, as was Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927", Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline...
Anyone who made it to The Grehan Sisters' great gig on Saturday, 26th July, knows that Helen took to reciting Shakespeare at one point and she was warming up to it at the Singers' session when she sang Love's labour isn't lost, it only caught a frost...
Two songs on related themes were "Liostáil mé le sáirsint" and "Willie Taylor". We heard "The boatman of Lough Key", "William Hollander" and the "Rose of Tralee".
That's just a taster. Speaking of which, thanks to Breege and Helen for providing such consistently good sambos and cakes too!
A good luck wish to one of our singers, Eimear Browne who was not present at the July session, as she was preparing for her 250km row down the Shannon, starting at the Shannon Pot on 24th July and finishing in Limerick on August 4th. Eimear is rowing in aid of Helping Hands, Cambodia. She'll be playing her fiddle every night at stops along the route and she might be persuaded to sing [in] a bar or two as well.
Tuilleadh ceoil, tuilleadh amhránaíochta, bí agus dí an mhí seo chugainn. Bígí ann.
There was Me name is Dick Darby, I'm a cobbler ..., "Willie the Ploughboy" and "Blue tar road". Nanci Griffith's song "It's a hard life wherever you go" was given an excellent outing, as was Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927", Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline...
Anyone who made it to The Grehan Sisters' great gig on Saturday, 26th July, knows that Helen took to reciting Shakespeare at one point and she was warming up to it at the Singers' session when she sang Love's labour isn't lost, it only caught a frost...
Two songs on related themes were "Liostáil mé le sáirsint" and "Willie Taylor". We heard "The boatman of Lough Key", "William Hollander" and the "Rose of Tralee".
That's just a taster. Speaking of which, thanks to Breege and Helen for providing such consistently good sambos and cakes too!
A good luck wish to one of our singers, Eimear Browne who was not present at the July session, as she was preparing for her 250km row down the Shannon, starting at the Shannon Pot on 24th July and finishing in Limerick on August 4th. Eimear is rowing in aid of Helping Hands, Cambodia. She'll be playing her fiddle every night at stops along the route and she might be persuaded to sing [in] a bar or two as well.
Tuilleadh ceoil, tuilleadh amhránaíochta, bí agus dí an mhí seo chugainn. Bígí ann.
June 21st - Summer Solstice Session!
A good crowd turned out for the Boyle Singers' Session in Dodd's on June 21st. Some were local and some travelled, from South Sligo and South Roscommon, and a from a good few places in between. There were well over 20 songs sung, several stories told and a couple of poems recited.
Mrs John Conroy was one of the humorous hits of the night. There were many choice lines in that song: I will, says she, transported be, for Mrs John Conroy… We could do with hearing it again to capture some more.
Úna Bhán Mac Dermott was the heroine of one song and a different Úna Bhán, Úna Bhán McDonnell was the heroine of a song by John Keegan Casey (the author of The Rising of the Moon).
Another local love song was Willie Reilly and his Coleen Bawn: O rise up, Willy Reilly and come along with me.... This early 19th century song has travelled all over the world. William Bulfin in his Rambles in Eirinn mentions the estate near Ballinafad where Squire Folliard and his daughter, the Coleen Bawn of the song, lived. That song involved the process of law as did the Land League incident in 1881 at Coolavin, Co. Sligo described in the newly composed song The Coolavin Lament, sung by its composer the other night.
Every song can’t get a mention, unfortunately, but two personal favourites were:
A lady fair in a garden walking, When a well-dressed gentleman came riding by.
He stepped up to her for to view her, And said, 'Fair lady, would you fancy I?'
And
Edward on Lough Erne Shore
The Sun was setting behind the mountain, The dew was falling upon the leaves
And I was seated beside a fountain, And a feathered songster sang on a tree.
And last but not least - the Knockcroghery song.
Oíche mhaith.
Mrs John Conroy was one of the humorous hits of the night. There were many choice lines in that song: I will, says she, transported be, for Mrs John Conroy… We could do with hearing it again to capture some more.
Úna Bhán Mac Dermott was the heroine of one song and a different Úna Bhán, Úna Bhán McDonnell was the heroine of a song by John Keegan Casey (the author of The Rising of the Moon).
Another local love song was Willie Reilly and his Coleen Bawn: O rise up, Willy Reilly and come along with me.... This early 19th century song has travelled all over the world. William Bulfin in his Rambles in Eirinn mentions the estate near Ballinafad where Squire Folliard and his daughter, the Coleen Bawn of the song, lived. That song involved the process of law as did the Land League incident in 1881 at Coolavin, Co. Sligo described in the newly composed song The Coolavin Lament, sung by its composer the other night.
Every song can’t get a mention, unfortunately, but two personal favourites were:
A lady fair in a garden walking, When a well-dressed gentleman came riding by.
He stepped up to her for to view her, And said, 'Fair lady, would you fancy I?'
And
Edward on Lough Erne Shore
The Sun was setting behind the mountain, The dew was falling upon the leaves
And I was seated beside a fountain, And a feathered songster sang on a tree.
And last but not least - the Knockcroghery song.
Oíche mhaith.
Tribute to the Grehan Sisters
A date for your diary:
One of our two (Breege and Helen) able founders and MCs of the Boyle Singers' Sessions, Helen Grehan, will join her sisters on Friday 25th July, at 10pm, to give a concert during the Boyle Arts Festival, billed A Tribute to the Grehan Sisters.
One of our two (Breege and Helen) able founders and MCs of the Boyle Singers' Sessions, Helen Grehan, will join her sisters on Friday 25th July, at 10pm, to give a concert during the Boyle Arts Festival, billed A Tribute to the Grehan Sisters.
May 17th 2008 in Dodd's Crescent Bar
The Boyle Singers' session moved to a new venue in Dodd's Crescent Bar this weekend.
The range of songs sung continues to expand: from Lord O'Bore and Mary Flynn, to Robbie Burns' Ae Fond Kiss, from Sigerson Clifford's Boys of Barr na Sráide about Cahirciveen, to a song bringing in all the beauty spots local to Boyle. There were a few tunes played too and some excellent guitar-work from Helen and Philip.
Next session: 3rd Saturday in June
The range of songs sung continues to expand: from Lord O'Bore and Mary Flynn, to Robbie Burns' Ae Fond Kiss, from Sigerson Clifford's Boys of Barr na Sráide about Cahirciveen, to a song bringing in all the beauty spots local to Boyle. There were a few tunes played too and some excellent guitar-work from Helen and Philip.
Next session: 3rd Saturday in June
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