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.
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.
13 December 2008 - Xmas session
The Boar's head, Down in yon forest, The holly and the ivy were joined by the Boatman of Lough Key, Robert Service, Mo dheartháirín óg mo chroí. Then Snows, Mary is not her real name, nor Jesus the name of her babe... Mo pháistín fionn,
True sons of Bacchus all took part: Eugene, Tony, Clare, Clíona, Frank, Frances, Angelo, Breege, Kathleen, George, Seosamh, Helen, Michael, Teresa ...
Crackers, holly, ivy, tinsel, buns, hot food from Dodds and a Singers' Session debut from Mrs. Dodd!
Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise.
See you all in January.
True sons of Bacchus all took part: Eugene, Tony, Clare, Clíona, Frank, Frances, Angelo, Breege, Kathleen, George, Seosamh, Helen, Michael, Teresa ...
Crackers, holly, ivy, tinsel, buns, hot food from Dodds and a Singers' Session debut from Mrs. Dodd!
Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise.
See you all in January.
15 November 2008. Not so quiet night...
A large crowd gathered in Dodd's for the Session. Heard it was one of the best yet - though this writer was unfortunately not there! Typical!
The Boyle singers' Christmas session has been moved forward a week and will now take place on Dec. 13th instead of Dec. 20th. That still gives enough time to dust off the Christmas carols and seasonal specials and give them an airing once more.
The Boyle singers' Christmas session has been moved forward a week and will now take place on Dec. 13th instead of Dec. 20th. That still gives enough time to dust off the Christmas carols and seasonal specials and give them an airing once more.
18 October 2008: A quiet night at the Boyle Singers
Settling into the Autumn, with several singing festivals under our belts (Rosses Point and the Sligo Traditional Singers' Circle, Dublin and the Frank Harte Festival) and another one due next weekend down in Knockcroghery, it was time for a quiet evening by the fire in Dodds. There was plenty of chat about the Rosses Point weekend, enjoyed by all who attended.
Songs sung included, a Davey Hammond song, Fair Rosa; Van Diemans Land; The Brown and the Yellow Ale; and The Captains and the Kings (which Brendan Behan recorded on Irish Folksongs and Ballads and sung by the Dubliners too). Then Blackwaterside; Green grows the laurel; John o' Dreams and a song Helen Grehan wrote herself, "Annie". The Night Visiting song: "I must away now..." and You are my sunshine... Rounded off by the Banks of the Lee, and another beauty from Breege.
Dubliners and The captains and the kings:
Songs sung included, a Davey Hammond song, Fair Rosa; Van Diemans Land; The Brown and the Yellow Ale; and The Captains and the Kings (which Brendan Behan recorded on Irish Folksongs and Ballads and sung by the Dubliners too). Then Blackwaterside; Green grows the laurel; John o' Dreams and a song Helen Grehan wrote herself, "Annie". The Night Visiting song: "I must away now..." and You are my sunshine... Rounded off by the Banks of the Lee, and another beauty from Breege.
Dubliners and The captains and the kings:
Oct. 3-5: Sligo Traditional Singing Weekend, Rosses Point
This weekend, October 3-5, will be a great one for singing, up in Rosses Point. The 2nd Annual Sligo Traditional Singing Weekend, organised by Sligo Traditional Singers Circle will take place there. Singing sessions, lectures, an island trip and the opportunity to hear local and visiting singers are all promised. Last year's festival was a huge success and this 2nd one is shaping up to be a worthy successor.
Sept. 26-28: Frank Harte Festival 2008, Dublin City
A reminder that the Frank Harte Singing Festival is on in Dublin this weekend, Sept. 26-28.
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