We ditched January
as a bad job this year, at the Boyle Trad Singers’ Session, and started the
year’s singing in February. We began on a high, with special guest, Joe Corscadden.
During the
evening, Bríd sang about Josie
McDermott, Tony wasn’t going to be
put off by the skipping of the January session and gave us January Man and
later, In London so fair. Clíona’s
contribution was Reynardine and Two sisters. It was
great to see John Normanly there, and he had Sean Mone’s
song, Jack Campbell and also, Where are
you tonight I wonder.
Helen sang Molly Ban, the story of which, it's said,
is the echo of a myth from long before Ovid’s time. Later she sang another
great song, the Lake of Coolfin. One of George’s songs was about John O’Reilly, from near the town of
Bray, a broken token song “Oh daughter dear, I’m not severe, here is 2000
pounds”. Sad ending though: Reilly and
she drowned, both.
Paddy Joe from near Kilkelly was another star of the
evening. He was called on to sing several times, and did. Come back come back [to] Aghamore. Then he
told us his neighbour wrote a song about him going to Bolton, far away from
Kilkelly town. His friend, gave us a
recitation on Tureen, Aghamore, describing every shop that was there, 59 in
all, in 1944, when the local priest was Fr. Horan. Later on, a second recitation was about the Travelling
Shop. To hear this recitation was an introduction to all the stock that was supplied by those shops at that time.
Kevin was conscious of the 100 year commemorations, and sang “I joined the flying column” and later, Grace (Gifford, Joseph
Mary Plunkett’s wife/widow).
Annette made her debut, I think, with Sonny don’t go
away and Sweet Forget me not. Thanks Annette. Anne, also
present, may make hers next time? Eh Anne? And Seán (I missed out on the first song, sorry Seán) – “Do you remember we traipsed around...”
Patsy, a lovely singer from the Ballymote singing
session (last Weds, every 2nd month) sang about the drowning in 1894 in Lough Arrow, of James Steward. Later
she sang about the three-leaved shamrock.
Called on several times during the session, Joe Corscadden was an entertaining guest, and sang and recited with great enthusiasm. He gave several of the favourites, by choice and by request, including The Tinkerman’s daughter, Raglan Road, the one about the Wife getting dressed to go out - It's 9! and we're late! and ended with his Fracking recitation and Lovely Leitrim. Thanks Joe.
Brendan
Fox, from Elphin was there to let us know there’ll be singing on Easter
Saturday, March 26th, in Elphin, in the Bothar Rua Pub, in the lounge
at back- from 8pm ish.
Agus beidh
muide ar ais díreach tar éis Lá ‘le Pádraig, agus an tseachtain roimh Cháisc,
leis an chéad seisiúin eile.
