Sorry - missed most of this at the time
There is a powerful tradition of local song making in Ireland that has yet to be investigated
Our local history society is considering issuing a small collection of them (may not be as small as I think when we make a start on it)
We have collected dozens from a small area on the West Coast of Ireland, most of which can be found of the Clare County Library website.
CLARE SONGS
One 90 odd year old singer told us how whatever happened of interest in the community was recorded in songs which lasted as long as the event remained in memory and then disappeared - he said, "If a man farted in church, somebody made a song about it".
It is this tradition of songmaking that has convinced me that rural working people were once more than capable of creating our song tradition without having to put it out to contract.
I haven't come across this particular song - I should have thought Mick Fortune and Aileen Lambert, who are carrying out some tremendous local work, might be the ones to ask.
Steve
Would have loved to have been in Liverpool at the weekend - it would have been nice to combine it with a visit to my sisters, but unfortunately the Clare Singing Weekend is an offer we can't refuse.
Hope it gets to happen in Ireland again while I still have my travel pass
Good luck to all there from both of us
Jim Carroll