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User:Jnestorius/Irish county songs

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Many are from the nineteenth century and the perspective of nostalgic emigrants.[1] Alan Titley calls them "cringe-making Victoriana".[2] In 1997 the GAA produced a double album All Ireland Songs & Heroes: A Musical Tribute to 32 Counties, with one track per county, plus "The West's Awake", used by any Connacht county which reaches the All Ireland Final, and the national anthem, "Amhrán na bhFiann".[3]

From the 1930s the GAA encouraged crowd singing at matches, with the Artane Boys Band playing before matches and during the half-time interval, and the words of county songs printed in match programmes. Since the 1990s the national anthem before the All Ireland final has been sung by a professional singer, with county songs sometimes also featured.

All Ireland Final songs edit

Besides the perennial anthems, there are often songs written immediately before a particular All-Ireland Final by supporters anticipating victory.[4][5] Kerry's "Five-in-a-row" song before the 1982 football final became a notorious instance of hubris when Kerry suffered a shock defeat to Offaly.[6][7] More final songs have had commercial releases since the 1990s,[5] with "Dancing at the Crossroads" topping the charts as Wexford won the 1996 hurling final.[4][8] Internet content delivery systems have increased the possibility of amateur efforts becoming viral hits.

At the 1980 football semifinal, inquiries by Sean Kilfeather of crowd members could not ascertain the song played as Offaly anthem.[9]

Table edit

County songs
County Song Date Words Music Mentioned places in the county Notes
Antrim "The Green Glens Of Antrim"[3][10] 1950[11] Kenneth North[11][n 1] Kenneth North Glens of Antrim, Cushendall The glens are a scenic tourist destination.[13] Sung from the perspective of an emigrant from Cushendall.[13]
Armagh "The Boys from the County Armagh"[3][10] Thomas P. Keenan Thomas P. Keenan Armagh ("Cathedral city"), Newtownhamilton, Forkhill, Crossmaglen, Mountnorris, Ulster Blackwater
Carlow "Follow Me up to Carlow"[3][10] 1899[14] Patrick Joseph McCall[14] Traditional[14] Clonmore, Carlow town McCall published his text as "Marching Song of Feach MacHugh".[14] He wrote, 'It is a tradition that this air ("Follow me up to Carlow") was first performed by the pipers of Feagh MacHugh [Fiach McHugh O'Byrne] as he marched to attack Carlow after his victory over Lord Deputy Grey at Glenmalure.'[14] Other places mentioned are the Glen of Imaal, County Wicklow and Saggart ("Tassaggart"[15]), County Dublin.[14]
Cavan "Come Back Paddy Reilly"[3][10] Percy French Percy French Ballyjamesduff
Cavan "Cavan Girl"
Clare "My Lovely Rose of Clare"[3][10]
Clare "Spancil Hill" 1872 Michael Considine Spancill Hill, Clooney Considine emigrated from Spancill Hill to America.
Cork "The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee"[1][3][10][16] 1933 Joseph Brenan[17][18] James Charles Shanahan[17] River Lee, Cork city, Mardyke[16] From the perspective of an emigrant.[1][16] The music was commissioned by impresario Dick Forbes and the song premiered at Cork Opera House by Margaret Dempsey.[19] Shanahan thought the text was by John Fitzgerald (1825–1910) "Bard of the Lee",[17][19] until Fitzgerald's daughter Elizabeth said it was actually written by a friend of his who emigrated to the U.S.A., whose details she did not remember.[17][19] Martin Ryan says the poem appeared in Fitzgerald's 1913 anthology,[17] whereas Pat Poland says it was found in manuscript in his papers.[19] The 1913 anthology does not in fact include the text, although it has a similar poem "By the Banks of the Beautiful Lee".[20] Ryan also says Elizabeth dated the emigration to the 1880s;[17] Poland says only "long since".[19] One candidate is Joseph Brenan (1828-57), who fled the failed Young Ireland Rebellion of 1848; Fitzgerald's lament for him (written by 1862[21]) includes the lines:[18]

He sung, while an exile, his dear native Lee,
Where he lovingly wander'd in childhood,
And “the glen” where he dream'd he was happy and free,
As his rifle rang clear in the wild wood.

Donegal "Mary from Dungloe"[3][10] 1936 Pádraig Mac Cumhaill Dungloe
Down "Star of the County Down"[3][10] Cathal McGarvey Banbridge
Down "The Mountains of Mourne" Percy French Traditional Mourne Mountains The text is in the form of a letter from an emigrant in London.
Dublin "Molly Malone"[3][1][10] 18xx Dublin city
Dublin "The Rare Ould Times" 197x Pete St. John Pete St. John Dublin city
Dublin "Dublin Saunter"
Fermanagh "Leaving Enniskillen"[3] Enniskillen By The Barleycorn
Fermanagh "Fare Thee Well Enniskillen"[10] Enniskillen The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons were a cavalry regiment of the British Army.
Galway "The Fields of Athenry"[3] Pete St. John Pete St. John Athenry Also widely sung at Ireland international rugby matches.
Galway "Galway Bay"[22][10] 1947 Arthur Colahan Galway Bay, Claddagh From the perspective of an emigrant in Great Britain.
Galway "The Galway Races" Galway Races
Kerry "The Rose of Tralee"[3][1][10] 18xx Tralee
Kildare "The Curragh of Kildare"[3][10] The Curragh
Kilkenny "The Rose of Mooncoin"[3][10] Mooncoin
Laois "Lovely Laois"[3][23][10] 1995[23] Christy Cullen[23] Christy Cullen[23] Commissioned for the GAA county songs album, as there was no existing song for Laois.[23] Recorded by Trudi Lalor, it reached number 3 in the Danish charts in 1997.[23]
Laois "Counting the Miles"
Leitrim "Lovely Leitrim"[3][10] One of several songs of the same name. Includes the Line: “Last night I had a pleasant dream I woke up with a smile.”[10]
Limerick "Limerick You're a Lady"[3][10] 1979 Denis Allen Denis Allen Limerick city
Londonderry "The Town I Loved So Well"[3][10] 1972[24] Phil Coulter Phil Coulter Derry city Contrasts the city of his youth with that of the Troubles. The Derry GAA team requested that it be played instead of "Danny Boy" for the 1993 All-Ireland final.[24]
Londonderry "Danny Boy" 1910 Frederic Weatherly Traditional The air became known as the "Londonderry Air" after George Petrie published it in 1855, crediting "Miss J. Ross, of N.T.-Limavady, in the county of Londonderry" as the collector.
Longford "Abbeyshrule"[3][10] Abbeyshrule
Longford "Longford Weaver"
Louth "The Turfman from Ardee"[3][25][10] Ardee
Louth "Red is the Rose"[25]
Louth "Is Clogherhead Like It Used To Be" Clogherhead
Mayo "Moonlight in Mayo"[3]
Mayo "The Green and Red of Mayo"[26] 1991[27] Jarir Al-Majar[27] Leo Moran, Davy Carton[27] Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay, Clare Island Released on The Saw Doctors' 1992 album All the Way from Tuam
Mayo "The Boys from the County Mayo"[10][28] 1880s[28] or 1930s[29] Tom Dunleavy of Kiltimagh[28][29] A litany, depending on the version.[28] Variant lyrics exist; it was sung at Croke Park in the 1940s and 50s.[28] Ó Muraíle says Land War[28]
Meath "Beautiful Meath"[3][10]
Meath "The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls" 1807[30] Thomas Moore[30] Traditional[30] Hill of Tara[31] The air is "Molly My Treasure"[30]
Monaghan "The Town of Ballybay"[3][10] Ballybay
Offaly "The Offaly Rover"[3][1][22][10] 19xx Frank Sweeney[32] River Brosna, Kinnitty, Ferbane, Clonmacnoise, Banagher, Killoughy, Croghan Hill, Slieve Bloom From the perspective of an emigrant remembering places in the county.[1]
Roscommon "The Men Of Roscommon"[3][10]
Roscommon "Where the Three Counties Meet"
Sligo "Down by the Salley Gardens"[3] 1909 W. B. Yeats Herbert Hughes Text published in 1895, adapted from folk song "The Rambling Boys of Pleasure"; setting published in 1909, adapted from folk song "The Moorlough Shore".
Sligo "The Isle of Innisfree"[1][10] 1950 Dick Farrelly Dick Farrelly Although W. B. Yeats' poem "Lake Isle of Innisfree" is about an island in Lough Gill, County Sligo, Farrelly's song uses "Innisfree" as a poetic name for Ireland.
Sligo "Benbulben of Sligo" Benbulben
Tipperary "Slievenamon"[3][2][33][10] 18xx Charles Kickham Slievenamon mountain Alan Titley calls it "ugly and baneful".[2]
Tyrone "The Flower of Sweet Strabane"[3][10] Strabane The narrator "McDonald" is leaving "Martha" for America. Places outside Tyrone mentioned include Inishowen, Killarney, Phoenix Park, Lifford, and the Mourne Mountains in Ireland, as well as Ayr and Liverpool.[34]
Waterford "Dungarvan My Home Town"[3] Dungarvan
Waterford "The Old Dungarvan Oak"[10] Dungarvan
Westmeath "Westmeath Bachelor"[3][10] 19xx Billy Whelan[35] Billy Whelan[35] Mullingar Made famous by Joe Dolan.[35]
Westmeath "The Reason I Left Mullingar"[36] 1980[36] Pat Cooksey[36] Pat Cooksey[36] Mullingar About a disillusioned emigrant working as a navvie in London.[36]
Wexford "Boolavogue"[3][10] 1898 Patrick Joseph McCall[37] Traditional[37] Boolavogue, Shelmalier, the Harrow, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Wexford town, Slievecoiltia, Tubberneering, Ballyellis, Vinegar Hill, River Slaney, Tullow[37] About John Murphy of Boolavogue's involvement in the Wexford Rebellion of 1798;[37] written for the centenary commemorations. The places named are sites of battles.
Wexford "The Boys of Wexford" Robert Dwyer Joyce[38] Arthur Warren Darley Vinegar Hill, New Ross, Wexford town, Three Bullet Gate, Tubberneering, Oulart, Forth, Shelmalier[38] About the Wexford Rebellion of 1798[38] The places named are sites of battles; "Three Bullet Gate" was in New Ross.
Wexford "By the Streams of Bunclody"[33] Bunclody From the perspective of a homesick emigrant[33]
Wicklow "The Meeting of the Waters"[3][10] 1807[30] Thomas Moore[30] Traditional[30] River Avoca][39] The air is "The Old Head of Dennis".[30]

See also edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ Kenneth North was a pseudonym of Archibald Montgomery[12]

References edit

Sources edit

  • Cronin, Mike (2012). "12 - 'Uíbh Fhalí, how I miss you with your heather scented air': Music, locality and the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland". Sporting Sounds : Relationships between sport and music. Routledge Online Studies on the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Vol. 1. pp. 210–221. doi:10.4324/9780203887974_chapter_12. ISBN 9780203887974. ISSN 2161-7163.
  • The '98 song book (New ed.). Dublin: Irish Book Bureau.
  • Moore, Thomas; Stanford, Charles Villiers (1895). The Irish Melodies by Thomas Moore, Restored and Arranged for Voice by Charles Villiers Stanford. London: Booze. Retrieved 11 December 2017.

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cronin 2012 p.216
  2. ^ a b c Titley, Alan (2013). "The Hidden History of Irish Ireland: An stair nach n-instear". American Journal of Irish Studies. 10. Glucksman Ireland House, New York University: 75–91 : 84. JSTOR 23595039. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag All Ireland Songs & Heroes: A Musical Tribute to 32 Counties 1997 Dolphin OCLC 683215380; 2002 Dolphin Dara GAELD1 ASIN B0000249N7; rereleased 2015 as Irish Roots — Our Musical Legacy ASIN B00W2ZJP0C
  4. ^ a b Devereux, Dave (2 September 2015). "Songs GAA fans love to sing". Ireland's Own. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b Horan, Liam (21 September 2013). "In 'Time to say Mayo', we have an anthem we can finally rally behind". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  6. ^ Foley, Michael (2013-08-01). Kings of September: The Day Offaly Denied Kerry Five in a Row. O'Brien Press. p. 234. ISBN 9781847176264. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  7. ^ McGillicuddy, Kevin (2015). "Listen: Kerryman pens brilliant All-Ireland song that is going viral all over the Kingdom". SportsJOE.ie. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  8. ^ Kelly, Niall (28 Sep 2013). "Dancing at the Crossroads: the hurling song that summed up a summer and toppled the Spice Girls". The 42. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Kerry dazzles Offaly; Artane baffles them all". IT. 25 Aug 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Cullen, Damian (13 August 2007). "September Road". The Irish Times. pp. 3 Sports Supplement. Retrieved 9 July 2020.; Cullen, Damian (26 July 2010). "Summing up a season in song". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Montgomery, Archibald". Published Music, January–June 1951. Catalog of Copyright Entries. Vol. Third series, Volume 5, Part 5A, Number 1. Library of Congress. 1951. p. 560.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Montgomery was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ a b "Heart of the Glens Landscape Conservation Action Plan 2013 : Stage II Submission Document for the Heritage Lottery Fund" (PDF). Heart of the Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme. July 2013. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  14. ^ a b c d e f McCall, Patrick Joseph (1899). Songs of Erinn. Simpkin Marshall & Co. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 15 Dec 2017.
  15. ^ "Saggart - History". South Dublin History. South Dublin County Council and Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  16. ^ a b c "The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee". Official Website. Cork GAA. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Ryan, Martin (November 2011). "The Haunted House" (PDF). The Lower Road. Ken Forde. p. 1, fn.1. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  18. ^ a b Fitzgerald, John (1913). "Joseph Brennan". Legends, ballads and songs of the Lee. Cork: Guy. p. 23.
  19. ^ a b c d e Poland, Pat (12 May 2020). "Remembering the life of our Bard of the Lee". Echo Live. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  20. ^ Fitzgerald, John (1913). "By the Banks of the Beautiful Lee". Legends, ballads and songs of the Lee. Cork: Guy. p. 142.
  21. ^ Fitz Gerald, John (1862). Legends, Ballads, and Songs of the Lee. Cork: Henry & Coghlan. p. 26.
  22. ^ a b "Champions Offaly Welcomed Home". RTÉ Archives. 1985. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "Co Laois is tops in Denmark". The Irish Times. 20 Nov 1997. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  24. ^ a b Andrews, Kernan (7 February 2013). "The songs he writes so well". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  25. ^ a b "'Turfman' the Louth county song?". Drogheda Independent. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  26. ^ McHugh, Willie (3 December 2013). "Footballing community come together for Darragh Walsh's final journey -". The Mayo News. Retrieved 12 December 2017. Tommie and Pat McGovern sang the county anthem, 'The Green and Red of Mayo'
  27. ^ a b c Basegmez, Virva (2005). Irish Scene and Sound: Identity, Authenticity and Transnationality Among Young Musicians. Department of Social Anthropology, Stockholm University. p. 103. ISBN 9789171550842.
  28. ^ a b c d e f Ó Muraíle, Nollaig (2001). "Some Thoughts on Matters Onomastic". Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. 53: 37. ISSN 0332-415X. JSTOR 25535719.
  29. ^ a b Commins, Michael (7 May 2013). "Statue of Monsignor Horan a 'fitting tribute to an 'extraordinary man'". The Mayo News. Retrieved 9 July 2020. Like fellow Mayo man, Tom Dunleavy from Kiltimagh, who penned 'The Boys from the County Mayo' in New York in the early 1930s, Fr Horan had taken those great words to his heart …"Don't show the white feather wherever you go". He had more than proved himself to be one of the "true-hearted men from the County Mayo".
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h Moore, Thomas; Stevenson, John; Brishop, Heny Rowley (1807). A Selection of Irish Melodies. With Symphonies and Accompaniments by Sir John Stevenson and Characteristic words by Thomas Moore. Vol. 1. London: J. Power. Index to the first number.
  31. ^ Moore & Stanford 1895, "The harp that once thro' Tara's halls."
  32. ^ Redmond, Jason (22 August 2017). "GOAL-ie's net prestigious accolade". Offaly Express. Retrieved 12 December 2017. the late Frank Sweeney of Kilcormac, author of the much loved county anthem 'The Offaly Rover' and for many years a prominent member of the Offaly Association Dublin
  33. ^ a b c "Singing Folk Trio Emmet Spiceland". RTÉ Archives. 1968. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  34. ^ "The Flower of Sweet Strabane". Songbook. Harvard Celtic Society. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  35. ^ a b c Casey, Ronan (2008-11-06). Joe Dolan: The Official Biography. Penguin Books Limited. p. 146. ISBN 9780141900407. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
  36. ^ a b c d e "The Reason I Left Mullingar Lyric". Official website. Pat Cooksey. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  37. ^ a b c d The '98 Song Book pp.3–4
  38. ^ a b c The '98 Song Book p.6
  39. ^ Moore & Stanford 1895, "The meeting of the waters."

External links edit

Songs about Ireland|Counties Lists related to counties of Ireland|Songs Gaelic games by county|Songs

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