The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126465   Message #2809926
Posted By: Jim Carroll
12-Jan-10 - 08:56 AM
Thread Name: Poems set to music
Subject: RE: Poems set to music
Byron's Dark Loch Na Gar is fairly commonly found in Ireland; piper Willie Clancy played a slow air by that name which is now usually associated with the song.
Irish Traveller 'Pop's' Johnny Connors, a member of the piping Doran family, got hold of a book of R L Stevenson's poems while a 'guest of her majesty' in Winson Green Prison and put a magnificent tune to 'Heather Ale'.
Two local poems now solidly lodged in the tradition are 'Miltown Malbay Fair' aka 'Nora Daly', and 'Farewell To Miltown Malbay', both by local poet Thomas Hayes.   
Jim Carroll