https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ accessed 22 Apr 2023

"Londonderry Sentinel" 15 Aug 1918

Mr Henry Coleman, FRCO, organist of Derry Cathedral, has an interesting article in this month's 'Musical Times' on the old Irish tune known as the 'Londonderry Air.' He says that of all the national tunes which have been rescued from oblivion during the last few years, chiefly through the efforts of such entusiasts as Cecil Sharp, none has achieved such striking popularity as the air under review, which he describes as a 'very beautiful tune, that is taking such an extraordinary hold upon the people' that 'hardly a week passes by without its appearing in some form or another on concert programmes.'

Sir Hubert Parry is quoted by Mr. Colemans as having spoken of the air as 'the most complete and perfect Irish national tune in existence.' The age of the tune is unknown. Miss Ross, of Limavady, 'seems to have been the first to write it down, and it was she who gave it to Petrie. Petrie printed it in his "Collection of Ancient Music in Ireland," published in Dublin in 1855.

Mr Coleman tabulates a list of no less than sixteen settings of the air, including one for organ by himself. It figures as an Irish love song, as 'Emer's Farewell to Cuchulain,' as 'Danny Boy' song, as 'Would God I were a tender apple blossom' song, as a pianoforte solo, string quartet, violin solo, viola solo, 'Military band, played by Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,' part song, anthem, &c.

Mr Coleman mentions that Mis Honoria Galwey, of Londonderry, has told him that the tune belongs as much to county Donegal as to county Derry, and Dr Annie Patterson remembers the tune in the west of Donegal from her childhood. The words seeem to have been descriptive of a penitent confessing to the priest, and all that remains of them are the words 'O shrine me, father.' These words, in Irish, constitute the name of the tune as Miss Patterson remembered it.
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I added paragraphs as there were none in the original article. Honoria Galwey (1830-1925) of Derry and Moville Co Donegal, collected tunes and songs and published a book called "Old Irish Croonauns". It sounds like people in County Donegal and Derry were familiar with hearing versions of the "Londonderry Air" tune in the oral tradition, quite likely handed down from other sources than the publication in Petrie's collection.

Words of 'Emer's Farewell to Cuchullain' and 'Would God I were a tender apple blossom' are published in the Londonderry Sentinel Sat 20 Dec 1947 in "MY COUNTY" Notes on a Recent Broadcast by Commander F. Gilliland D.L. But I see these lyrics have already been contributed to Mudcat. And you will find other lyrics set to this tune in some of the related Mudcat threads listed at the top of this page. A related tune 'Aisling an Óigfhir' (the young man's dream/vision) was published in Bunting's 1796 collection. https://www.itma.ie/digital-library/score/bunting-vol-1-17