Sing early, sing often!
Autumn resolution for the Boyle Singers - we'll be starting at the earlier time of 9.00 (no, really we will), with a view to kicking off the singing at 9.30pm, from next month onwards.
This week we had a visit from a Japanese girl from Tokyo, Sayaka, who's doing a thesis on sean nós singing and seems to be visiting all the singing circles and festivals in Ireland, (it's a hard oul' station), gathering information and talking to people. She's a lovely singer herself, too.
Jim Bainbridge, Brian and Eileen were welcomed back and were in good voice, as was Eugene – doing a mighty job in his debut as Fear a' Tí. We’re making a small change to our usual format, and the convention is now, a round or two of songs, the sambos and then a free-for-all, or as they say in polite circles: “open to the floor”.
Frank and Frances Brennan were noted by their absence – but you can catch Frank at the singing festival in Knockcroghery next weekend, where he’s to appear as a special guest.
An aside here: Cnoc an Chrocaire / Knockcroghery was originally called An Creagán (Creggan, stony hill). There was a gallows erected on the hill to hang the Ó Ceallaighs, defeated by Sir Charles Coote in the 17th century. They had resisted Coote’s siege of their stronghold, Galey or Gayley Castle, on the shores of Lough Ree. They were hanged on the hill at Creggan and the deed was remember in the change of name, Cnoc an Chrocaire or hangman’s hill, anglicized to Knockcroghery.
No direct link, but one popular theme for the evening was soldiering and enlisting – or rather, against soldiering and enlisting. Tony for one gave us the King’s shilling (also sung by the Battlefield Band, Karan Casey, Jean Redpath, and others):
Oh my love has left me wi' bairnies twa
And that's the last o' him I ever saw
He's joined the army and he marched awa'
He took the shillin'
He took the shillin' and he marched awa'
Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar Tak' the King's shilling an' we're off tae war
Nora had No traitors came from Boyle and Eileen had Siúl a Rúin.
And the other main theme, wives and their mistreatment (Jim Bainbridge, let him be named!) was answered by Helen’s Himself, but he persisted with Three wives in The Fountain – the Fountain being a pub in England. No lyrics recorded for that but elicited this response from Clíona:
My parents they abandoned me and on them I do frown
For they wed me to an auld grey man for the sake of his money and ground
Francie did give Jim a lift home anyway.
Eugene threw in a few unsuitable songs from his repertoire (which is large) and also gave another tale of the marital state with the Brown and the Yellow Ale:
He asked me if the woman by my side was my daughter
Oh, the brown and the yellow ale
And when I said she's my wife his manner didn't alter
Oh, love of my heart.
Breege sang of Josie McDermott and of Staunton’s Brae and Brian sang Zozimus’s Finding of Moses.
On Egypt's banks, contagious to the Nile
The auld Pharaoh's daughter, she went to bathe in style
She took her dip and she came unto the land
And to dry her royal pelt she ran along the strand
[... Moses found, brought home to the Da, who wants to know who’s responsible]:
Ah then," says the Pharaoh, "I'll search every nook
From the Phoenix Park down to Donnybrook
And when I catch a hoult of the b**st*rds father
I’ll kick him from the Nile down to the Dodder."
And we had Bogies bonnie belle, Isle of Malachy and I wish my love was red red rose from the girl with the new glasses.
Discover Boyle day, Sunday 3rd October 2010
As part of the Discover Boyle day on Sunday 3rd October, the Boyle singers ran an extra singing session, which took place on Sunday afternoon, 4-6pm, in Dodd's Crescent bar.
There was an excellent turn-out of the regulars and some new faces too. Several people dropped in, on their way home from the Sligo traditional singers' weekend in Rosses Point, to add their songs to the afternoon. We hope we'll get to see (and hear) them again at our regular sessions, on the 3rd Saturday of the month, every month.
There was an excellent turn-out of the regulars and some new faces too. Several people dropped in, on their way home from the Sligo traditional singers' weekend in Rosses Point, to add their songs to the afternoon. We hope we'll get to see (and hear) them again at our regular sessions, on the 3rd Saturday of the month, every month.
18 September 2010.
Late night, many songs.
Unexpected and unusual soft spot for a banker - in Eugene's song:
...It pierced her through the very heart,
To think that young banker and her should part...
Young banker he had such a handsome face,
And all around his hat he wore a band of lace,
Beside such an handsome head of hair,
For my young banker I will go there.
From the singing of the Wilsons
Unexpected and unusual soft spot for a banker - in Eugene's song:
...It pierced her through the very heart,
To think that young banker and her should part...
Young banker he had such a handsome face,
And all around his hat he wore a band of lace,
Beside such an handsome head of hair,
For my young banker I will go there.
From the singing of the Wilsons
21 August 2010
Some notes from the evening, more to follow:
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was taking place in Cavan town this weekend and this meant one of our number arrived a little late and another left a little early as various members of the singers' group travelled over to take part. Hughie was prompted to sing about the famous Cavan GAA footballer, John Joe O'Reilly (1919 – 1952) from Killeshandra.
Others sang about Cuckoos, Johnny Morrissey and more.
Helen sang about a soldier returning from World War I, damaged and not able to cope with the memory of the horrors witnessed.
Brian made a grand job of I met Frank Halpin's gander couring Nancy Hogan's goose.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was taking place in Cavan town this weekend and this meant one of our number arrived a little late and another left a little early as various members of the singers' group travelled over to take part. Hughie was prompted to sing about the famous Cavan GAA footballer, John Joe O'Reilly (1919 – 1952) from Killeshandra.
Others sang about Cuckoos, Johnny Morrissey and more.
Helen sang about a soldier returning from World War I, damaged and not able to cope with the memory of the horrors witnessed.
Brian made a grand job of I met Frank Halpin's gander couring Nancy Hogan's goose.
17 July 2010 : Who are you, my pretty fair maid
39 songs by my reckoning. Back later with a little more info.
________________
Back again - but isn't the summer flying in!
Well, Cyril McDermott from Ballyroddy, Elphin was back for a visit, and sang the Bantry Girl's Lament and Frankie Simon's song about the Windmill in Elphin. Cyril was one of those who worked towards restoring the windmill there. A regular visitor from Elphin, Paddy gave us Red-Haired Mary and the Rose of Allendale. George was accused of being a crazy-mixed up kid when he sang "I am my own Grand Pa".
We welcomed Jim Bainbridge and his wife, Francie, to the club. He kicked off with a 1920s song which goes: "It’s really high time that something was done to alter the way that the country is run...". (Well, we all second that.) Actually, it's a song about the duty on whisky, which was increased in England, on 19 April, 1920, so the price went up from ten and a tanner to 12 and a tanner a bottle.
Eugene traced our own country's woes back further - still linked to politics tho':
You brave young sons of Erin's Isle, I hope you will attend awhile
'Tis the wrongs of dear old Ireland I am going to relate
'Twas black and cursed was the day
When our parliament was taken away
And all of our griefs and sufferings commences from that day...
Breege's song about the drowning on Lough Arrow in 1874 held our attention and Helen's own love song, beside Lough Key (scraps of the verse: "we loved the first with such a thirst" ..."beside Lough Cé" ... "on Easter Day she passed my way".
A taster of more of the songs:
Raglan Road ,
Hot Asphalt,
Bold Grenadier:
As I was a walking one morning in May,
I spied a young couple, so fond they did stray,
One was a young maid so sweet and so fair,
And the other was a soldier and a bold Grenadier...
And then the surprise ending:
They kissed so sweet and comforting – last line... and she pushed him in.
Ahah! - never heard that bit before.
More maidens' revenge followed with Martinmas Time.
Moving along: My love came to Dublin; To plough and sow, reap and mow; Johnny Morissey and the Russian Sailor; Ceaití and the Sean duine dóite (not in the same song); 'Twas duly that it came to pass, I met ma bonnie fisher lass; Green grow the rushes, Oh; Annie; The Summer time is blooming; Who are you my pretty fair maid?
If you think you have a song or recitation to contribute to our store, or you'd just like to come and listen - see you next session - August (canyoubelieveit) 21, 2010 in Dodd's.
________________
Back again - but isn't the summer flying in!
Well, Cyril McDermott from Ballyroddy, Elphin was back for a visit, and sang the Bantry Girl's Lament and Frankie Simon's song about the Windmill in Elphin. Cyril was one of those who worked towards restoring the windmill there. A regular visitor from Elphin, Paddy gave us Red-Haired Mary and the Rose of Allendale. George was accused of being a crazy-mixed up kid when he sang "I am my own Grand Pa".
We welcomed Jim Bainbridge and his wife, Francie, to the club. He kicked off with a 1920s song which goes: "It’s really high time that something was done to alter the way that the country is run...". (Well, we all second that.) Actually, it's a song about the duty on whisky, which was increased in England, on 19 April, 1920, so the price went up from ten and a tanner to 12 and a tanner a bottle.
Eugene traced our own country's woes back further - still linked to politics tho':
You brave young sons of Erin's Isle, I hope you will attend awhile
'Tis the wrongs of dear old Ireland I am going to relate
'Twas black and cursed was the day
When our parliament was taken away
And all of our griefs and sufferings commences from that day...
Breege's song about the drowning on Lough Arrow in 1874 held our attention and Helen's own love song, beside Lough Key (scraps of the verse: "we loved the first with such a thirst" ..."beside Lough Cé" ... "on Easter Day she passed my way".
A taster of more of the songs:
Raglan Road ,
Hot Asphalt,
Bold Grenadier:
As I was a walking one morning in May,
I spied a young couple, so fond they did stray,
One was a young maid so sweet and so fair,
And the other was a soldier and a bold Grenadier...
And then the surprise ending:
They kissed so sweet and comforting – last line... and she pushed him in.
Ahah! - never heard that bit before.
More maidens' revenge followed with Martinmas Time.
Moving along: My love came to Dublin; To plough and sow, reap and mow; Johnny Morissey and the Russian Sailor; Ceaití and the Sean duine dóite (not in the same song); 'Twas duly that it came to pass, I met ma bonnie fisher lass; Green grow the rushes, Oh; Annie; The Summer time is blooming; Who are you my pretty fair maid?
If you think you have a song or recitation to contribute to our store, or you'd just like to come and listen - see you next session - August (canyoubelieveit) 21, 2010 in Dodd's.
19th June 2010 ...one sang high and the other sang low...
Some great songs and rhymes at the Boyle Singers' Circle on June 19th, 2010.
There was a smell of sulphur in the air for Frances’ rendition of Peg Kelly's black cat and Martin (from Mayo) brought back holy memories with a recitation about Knock aiport (... money’s expensive shtuff, and we don’t have enuff, to sink in a bog in Mayo...).
Before all that, Gerry O’Beirne’s Isle of Malachi was done justice by Clare (to the tune of Seán Ó Duibhir a’ Ghleanna):
Search where no ships are sailing
No sound of hearts breaking
Or down in deepest Africa
No one will find him there
But down the sands of evening
In days of my love leaving
You will hear the dance rise all around
The Isle of Malachy
Derval sang The Raggle Taggle Gypsy ...one sang high and the other sang low... and that was Seosamh maybe, with a wonderful, gentle version of Raglan Road.
Disasters of the Great War and other effin wars too, were in both Robert’s and Eugene’s songs. Robert sang a song which came to him from America about the firemen in the Twin Towers and another song about Francis Ledwidge, the Blackbird of Slane. Ledwidge, a soldier with the Royal Inniskillen Fusiliers, wrote Lament for Thomas MacDonagh (He shall not hear the bittern cry ...) and was himself killed in July 1917, near Ypres in Belgium, in a shell explosion.
Eugene gave us The Old Man's Tale (Ian Campbell, trad. tune, 'Nicky Tams')
At the turning of the century I was a boy of five
Me father went to fight the Boers and never came back alive.
Me mother was left to bring us up, no charity she'd seek,
So she washed and scrubbed and scrapped along on seven and six a week.
Do liostáil Clíona le sáirsint, ag nascadh téamaí , cogadh agus Co. Mhaigh Eo, in ómós do mhuintir Mhaigh Eo a bhí i láthair.
Staying with Francis Ledwidge’s generation, and in recognition of Bloomsday during the week, Tony’s song had Joycean connections. Love’s old sweet song is not only the song Molly and Blazes Boylan were to be rehearsing together, on that famous Dublin day in June, but it was also one of the songs James Joyce sang at the Feis Ceoil in 1904, when he won the bronze medal and John McCormack the gold. Clare followed with Yeats’ Stolen Child.
There was nifty guitar playing from several of those present, Helen, Willie and a visitor who dropped in after the Tommy Tiernan gig next door. Another of the visitors from the TT show, Michael, delivered the Apprentice song (When I was a young apprentice and less than compos mentis...), a great one that Eugene has also been known to sing, and Lost Little Children which he heard on Tim O’Brien’s The Crossing.
As usual, there were lots more, (Frank’s Plains of Waterloo, Breege’s You learned men, who take the pen and her lovely harmonies, Helen’s On Easter Day you passed my way and her great guitar work, to name but a few) too numerous etc., etc.
Derval sang Hush, hush. We didn’t get her on film, but here’s a taste of the Corries performing that same song:
There was a smell of sulphur in the air for Frances’ rendition of Peg Kelly's black cat and Martin (from Mayo) brought back holy memories with a recitation about Knock aiport (... money’s expensive shtuff, and we don’t have enuff, to sink in a bog in Mayo...).
Before all that, Gerry O’Beirne’s Isle of Malachi was done justice by Clare (to the tune of Seán Ó Duibhir a’ Ghleanna):
Search where no ships are sailing
No sound of hearts breaking
Or down in deepest Africa
No one will find him there
But down the sands of evening
In days of my love leaving
You will hear the dance rise all around
The Isle of Malachy
Derval sang The Raggle Taggle Gypsy ...one sang high and the other sang low... and that was Seosamh maybe, with a wonderful, gentle version of Raglan Road.
Disasters of the Great War and other effin wars too, were in both Robert’s and Eugene’s songs. Robert sang a song which came to him from America about the firemen in the Twin Towers and another song about Francis Ledwidge, the Blackbird of Slane. Ledwidge, a soldier with the Royal Inniskillen Fusiliers, wrote Lament for Thomas MacDonagh (He shall not hear the bittern cry ...) and was himself killed in July 1917, near Ypres in Belgium, in a shell explosion.
Eugene gave us The Old Man's Tale (Ian Campbell, trad. tune, 'Nicky Tams')
At the turning of the century I was a boy of five
Me father went to fight the Boers and never came back alive.
Me mother was left to bring us up, no charity she'd seek,
So she washed and scrubbed and scrapped along on seven and six a week.
Do liostáil Clíona le sáirsint, ag nascadh téamaí , cogadh agus Co. Mhaigh Eo, in ómós do mhuintir Mhaigh Eo a bhí i láthair.
Staying with Francis Ledwidge’s generation, and in recognition of Bloomsday during the week, Tony’s song had Joycean connections. Love’s old sweet song is not only the song Molly and Blazes Boylan were to be rehearsing together, on that famous Dublin day in June, but it was also one of the songs James Joyce sang at the Feis Ceoil in 1904, when he won the bronze medal and John McCormack the gold. Clare followed with Yeats’ Stolen Child.
There was nifty guitar playing from several of those present, Helen, Willie and a visitor who dropped in after the Tommy Tiernan gig next door. Another of the visitors from the TT show, Michael, delivered the Apprentice song (When I was a young apprentice and less than compos mentis...), a great one that Eugene has also been known to sing, and Lost Little Children which he heard on Tim O’Brien’s The Crossing.
As usual, there were lots more, (Frank’s Plains of Waterloo, Breege’s You learned men, who take the pen and her lovely harmonies, Helen’s On Easter Day you passed my way and her great guitar work, to name but a few) too numerous etc., etc.
Derval sang Hush, hush. We didn’t get her on film, but here’s a taste of the Corries performing that same song:
And after that, they sang on into the night ... once more ...
15 May 2010 ... a slate off that Willie Yeats, sez she
I wish my love was a red red rose set the night off to a great start.
Jerry continued it with,
First I was a waiting man that lived at home at ease,
And now I am a mariner that ploughs the angry seas.
Seamus Ennis collected On board the Kangaroo from Elizabeth Cronin in Macroom and it's been popular with singers since.
The "young maid about 17, I listed in the Navy, all for to serve the King" was inspired by the Kangaroo ship. And maybe also, Waltzing Matilda, sung later on?
The Rocks of Bawn, the Boston Burglar, Old Man River, the Bantry Girl's Lament (with lovely harmonies from Breege) and Eastersnow (lovely melody from B.) all got an airing. Noreen accompanied herself on guitar and sang Ian Tyson's Four strong winds, (Neil Young was known to sing that one) and Helen sang John O'Dreams.
Eugene had royalty on his mind, and gave a rousing rendition of Sez She (by Mr. P. French) - "Me loyal subjects" sez she
Here's my best respect, sez she
And I'm proud this day, sez she
Of the elegant way, sez she
That you gave me the hand, sez she
When I come to the land, sez she
[...]
Frances said: Of course you’ve heard of the Nancy Lee and Frank went to the Chapel Gate in Cooraclare.
Kilkelly Ireland 2001, composed by Pat Johnson, I believe, and updated to include the sorrowful line: Th’oul volcano’s erupting and I’m in total despair - with feeling, from Joe.
Then on to places you don't need to fly to, Raglan Road (Nora), Coolmore (or at least its Maid, by Clare), Carrickfergus (J/G), Shores of Lough Bran (Breege), An Charraig Bhán (nó a bhruach, C).
I'm missing more songs and a few more recimitations - for lack of time not lack of quality - ah go on then, John Williams on the Titanic, Kissing in the morning early, An poc ar buile, Gardens in Eden, Bobby McGee, McAlpine's Fusiliers, Johnny Morissey, Dirt (recitation), Getting Dressed (recitation) and Willie McBride.
And they didn't stop there, but this writer ran out of beermats for the note-taking.
Go dtí go gcastar ar a chéile arís sinn - beirigí bua.
Jerry continued it with,
First I was a waiting man that lived at home at ease,
And now I am a mariner that ploughs the angry seas.
Seamus Ennis collected On board the Kangaroo from Elizabeth Cronin in Macroom and it's been popular with singers since.
The "young maid about 17, I listed in the Navy, all for to serve the King" was inspired by the Kangaroo ship. And maybe also, Waltzing Matilda, sung later on?
The Rocks of Bawn, the Boston Burglar, Old Man River, the Bantry Girl's Lament (with lovely harmonies from Breege) and Eastersnow (lovely melody from B.) all got an airing. Noreen accompanied herself on guitar and sang Ian Tyson's Four strong winds, (Neil Young was known to sing that one) and Helen sang John O'Dreams.
Eugene had royalty on his mind, and gave a rousing rendition of Sez She (by Mr. P. French) - "Me loyal subjects" sez she
Here's my best respect, sez she
And I'm proud this day, sez she
Of the elegant way, sez she
That you gave me the hand, sez she
When I come to the land, sez she
[...]
Frances said: Of course you’ve heard of the Nancy Lee and Frank went to the Chapel Gate in Cooraclare.
Kilkelly Ireland 2001, composed by Pat Johnson, I believe, and updated to include the sorrowful line: Th’oul volcano’s erupting and I’m in total despair - with feeling, from Joe.
Then on to places you don't need to fly to, Raglan Road (Nora), Coolmore (or at least its Maid, by Clare), Carrickfergus (J/G), Shores of Lough Bran (Breege), An Charraig Bhán (nó a bhruach, C).
I'm missing more songs and a few more recimitations - for lack of time not lack of quality - ah go on then, John Williams on the Titanic, Kissing in the morning early, An poc ar buile, Gardens in Eden, Bobby McGee, McAlpine's Fusiliers, Johnny Morissey, Dirt (recitation), Getting Dressed (recitation) and Willie McBride.
And they didn't stop there, but this writer ran out of beermats for the note-taking.
Go dtí go gcastar ar a chéile arís sinn - beirigí bua.
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