Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)

Subject: INFO ON SONG FOR IRELAND
From: GUEST,RAY
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 03:25 PM

Hi there,

Could you please help me with any relevant information about the beautiful song titled Song for Ireland.

I am also looking for informaiton about its authros Phil & June Colclough.

This information would help me complete a project which i am working on.

Kind regards,

Ray.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 04:18 PM

The authors were English, not Irish as might be supposed. Both from Staffordshire I think. Phil is still with us, June is not, she died a few years back.That's all I know, others may have other memories, or a bit of googling will find plenty for youre project I'm sure.
Great song.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Emma B
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 04:20 PM

I believe that Phil was inspired to write this lovely song when staying in Schull in West Cork.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 04:25 PM

Not much Atlantic shore in Schull! They must have had a little trip out down to the end.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 05:17 PM

well I know Schull well,I wouldnt swim there if youpaid me[sewage pumped straight into the Harbour].
The Mizen Head[as Greg says] is an awe inspiring coast,and much more likely.Dick Miles Ballydehob

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 05:23 PM

Phil and June were part of the Critics Group for a while I think, and certainly did gigs as a couple for I remember them at a folk club in the 60's. Memory also tells me it was Staffordshire too.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 03:12 AM

Phil was, June wasn't, though she did appear in two 'Festival of Fools'.
There is an interview with them to be found in the Archives of 'The Living Tradition' (can't find date) about five years ago.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: joseph
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 05:48 AM

type in Phil And June Colclough and you will find alot of sites giving info thereis also avideo of the great late Luke Kelly Singing the uncut version of this graet song

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 07:06 AM

From Dick Gaughan's discography:


Song For Ireland (Phil & June Colclough)
I first heard this sung by Sean Cannon and asked him about it. I was quite surprised to learn it had been written by Phil and June, who I had known for years. They'd been with the Critics Group, the group based around MacColl and Seeger at the Singers' Club in London. I don't think it could have been written by anyone Scots or Irish as it is not an inside view but there is something about it which appeals to us, with its echoes of Yeats. The guitar tuning used was DADGAD.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 08:49 AM

Not a lot of info available in fact, joseph- just a lot of separate references to them as composers of 'a Song for Ireland' in particular.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Raggytash
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 09:14 AM

Black Head is on the coast of County Clare between Ballyvaughan and Fannore, the rocks do run down to the sea, it is a fantastic beautiful place. From Black Head you can look across Galway bay to the Connamara or out into the Atlantic to the Arran Isles

Beaut

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Declan
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 02:06 PM

The song has been recorded many times. Three notable versions are by Luke Kelly and Dick Gaughan both noted above, and by De Dannan. The De Dannan version with Mary Black on vocals is probably the version which became best known here in Ireland. De Dannan also recorded some further songs by the Colcloughs including Diglake Fields.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 19 Oct 07 - 05:58 AM

The original version appears in the shortlived "Songsmith" publication...I think edition2...if my memory serves me well Phil and June were editors of this publication.
Mary Black's version (and the Fureys' version) has altered some of the words,not for the better IMHO
geoff t

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: joseph
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 04:52 AM

I think we have lost the point of the original request re Phil and   June. It is information on Phil and June the project writer requires. Information regarding the song is easily available on internet,but ther is no information about the authors of this song.I may be wrong but I think Phil and June originated from Canada.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Peace
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 10:39 AM

Subject: INFO ON SONG FOR IRELAND
From: GUEST,RAY - PM
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 03:25 PM

Hi there,

Could you please help me with any relevant information about the beautiful song titled Song for Ireland.

I am also looking for informaiton about its authros Phil & June Colclough.

This information would help me complete a project which i am working on.

Kind regards,

Ray.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Ian
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 12:37 PM

I must be one of the few mudcatters that heard the first public performance of "Song For Ireland" in the Stoke on Trent Folk club.
Phil had a great repertoire of sea songs from his time in the merchant navy. He had some fine tales of his life at sea as well.
Another of his songs is "My grandfather knew the plough", recorded by Nick Jones. Phil's introduction to it was a graphic description of his Shropshire grandfather arriving in Stoke on Trent by train. The smoke and sulpher laden air from the pottery kilns made his grandfather think he had arrived in hell.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:27 PM

Hey Ian

I've always understood Grandfather to be a Nic Jones original. I got this from a certain Sheffield person but the link has expired. Have you more information? Do PM me as it's off-topic, or else post it to the Grandfather thread: "My Grandfather Knew The Plough"

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Ian
Date: 25 Oct 07 - 07:52 AM

In answer to the first request. I am in agreement with Greg that they were Staffordshire based.
Phil and June were regulars in the Soke on Trent Folk clubs in the 1960s and 70s. When Phil retired from the sea he became a fireman in Newcastle under Lyme (I think) and lived in Audley. I think they both had family in the area. Phils grandfather came from Shropshire the adjacent county.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: GUEST,Sarah Colclough
Date: 25 Oct 07 - 06:04 PM

I am Phil and June Colclough's daughter. My parent's both wrote this song. Tragically my mother died prematurely at 63 only 3 years ago. My parents were both from North Staffordshire not Canada. My father's family have Irish connections in County Wexford. My parents helped to set up the first folk club in Stoke-Trent in 1960 and in 1966 they left Stoke for London. My father joined Ewan Macoll's Critics Group. Back in Staffordshire in 1970's my parents ran folk clubs and produced a folk based radio programme for the BBC Radio Stoke. Song for Ireland was indeed inspired by a holiday my parents took in visiting the Dingle Peninsula. It has been recorded by Joan Baez, Mary Black, The Dubliners and Englebert Humperdinck.
Another song written by my parents which I think is fantastic is called The Call and The Answer. My parents spent much of their lives working in Education as teachers and education advisers. My Dad has left North Staffordshire and is hoping to resume a musical life at some point.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: GUEST,midlandbard
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 05:43 PM

ARE YOU OF THE COCLOUGH ANCESTRY FORMERLY TINTERN ABBEY, SALTMILLS CO WEXFORD?

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 11:15 PM

Declan states:

>>>De Dannan. The De Dannan version with Mary Black on vocals is probably the version which became best known here in Ireland.<<<

That's a really lovely recording. I forget which album it was off of but I bought that on Cassette in 1986 I think. I was dating guy whose Mum was from Ireland (My Family is also from Ire;land, my father is the first one born here in the USA) and his dad from Italy - he was first generation. Anyhoo - we bought the cassette on a trip to The Irish Catskill resort town of East Durham. i say resort town, but think a bunch of cabins that families rent with a central dining hall which later serves as the music hall for the evening entertainment.

We played that casette all the way back to Staten Island, where his irish family was living . We stayed with them a lot that summer.

Truly lovely song even if the lyrics are a bit much at times. Mind you, I love the song. I just get some groans sometimes when I ask to play it in a group.   It does make for a lovely instrumental piece when played in a group with traditional instruments if you run into groaners.

Subject: RE: Info on 'Song for Ireland' (Colclough)
From: GUEST,RAY
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 09:07 AM

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, especially Sarah Colclough. All the relevant information will greatly help me complete a songbook which i have been working on for many years.

Take care and thanks again.

Ray in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 13 - 10:16 PM

I am trying to locate Phil Colclough to request permission to publish the lyrics to his song A Song for Ireland in an educational book about falcons. Would anyone have any idea how to locate him?
Thanks
Dianne

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 05 Sep 13 - 03:08 AM

Try The Living Tradition Magazine - they carried an article about He and Phil and will certainly have a contact address
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,Ann Sharples
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 11:27 AM

Sarah, I am trying to contact your father to ask his permission to use a verse from 'The Call and the Answer' as a heading quotation for one of the chapters in a novel I have written. If you can supply me with a contact, can you email me on [e-mail]

I also have a website, if you want to check me out (I have written childrens books before the novel I have now written).

Thank you, if you can help,

Ann

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 06:15 AM

I can confirm as others have, they were a Staffordshire Couple, Phil was still alive when I looked it up a couple of years ago, but June had sadly passed away. They were associated with Ewan McColl for a while. They wrote the song after a visit to south West Ireland. Excellent song

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,aleksander karic
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 07:10 PM

I am a close friend of Phil Colclough and have been involved in the folk scene since early sixties,he married an American woman called Katherine and moved to london,he sent me cards regularly from his holidays in the states,then some weeks ago all this stopped.i am worried if something has happened to him as we were close friends,please get in touch with me my address is;5,Swallow Croft Leek ST13 8JB,thank you.

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 02:41 AM

I think Robin Bullock does a rather good dadgad version of this tune.

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 01:24 PM

I can confirm they are/were from Staffordshire, June passed away some years ago but as of a few years back Phil was still with us. Both were devotees of Ewam macColl, and with the late Luke Kelly spent some time with him in London before coming back to Staff's. The song was inspired by a holiday in the Cork area. One of the finest of a genre I term Irish b y the Engliah

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,steve vitoff
Date: 26 Mar 17 - 08:56 PM

i heard this for the first time a few days ago and i learned it and posted it

w piano


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDoVTjVUFLI&t=1s

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 28 Mar 17 - 11:51 AM

They were indeed a Staffordshire couple, devotees along with Luke Kelly of Ewan McColl in the 6o's. The song was inspired by holidays rgey took to the West of Ireland. I was told around 8 years ago that June had passed away but that Phil was still alive and living in Staff's. It's a kively song, one of many often termed Trad Irish IN ireland but in fact one of many, like Dirty Old Town, in fact written by Engliah writers

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,Sharon Rondeau
Date: 24 Jul 17 - 10:42 AM

I wanted to request permission to publish an arrangement of "For Ireland" for the harp. How would I reach Sarah or Phil himself?

Thank you very much.

Sharon Hanjian Rondeau
www.harpinmotion.com
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: kendall
Date: 24 Jul 17 - 02:30 PM

As far as I know, I have no Irish in me, but on occasion I have some Scotch in me.

Seriously, when I started losing my voice 14 years ago, I made a "Bucket list" and one of the things I wanted to do was to stand on Dingle Beach and sing Song for Ireland. With a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat, I did it. The other thing was to stand on top of Ben Nevis and sing Flower of Scotland. That I can never do.

Song for Ireland is, in my not so humble opinion, is a great song. I still sing it in my head.
Thank you, Phil and June.

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 25 Jul 17 - 05:45 AM

Sharon Rondeau ... I've emailed Phil Colclough regarding your query.
Derek

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 25 Jul 17 - 06:37 AM

Dick Gaughan makes a salient point about this song in his sleevenotes for Handful of Earth.

He says "I don't think it could have been written by anyone Scots or Irish as it is not an inside view but there is something about it which appeals to us, with its echoes of Yeats."

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 19 - 05:37 PM

I WAS FISHING ON A BEACH IN KERRY IT WAS IN THE EIGHTIES I WAS FISHING IN THE SURF. i had a lot of talks with people passing buy the troubles in the north where bad at the time .A MAN STOPPED TO TALK TO ME HE HAD AN ENGLISH ACCENT HE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ME AND THE NORTH JUST AS A FALCON FLUE ALONG THE TOP OF THE WAVES. I GIVE A SMALL TALK ABOUT FALCONS AS I SAID I FALLOWED THE ALL OVER IRELAND .NEAR SURE I SAW A COUPLE IN THE PUB THAT NIGHT I THINK IT WAS THEM .MICHAEL. PS COULD BE A COINCIDENCE

Subject: RE: Origin: Song for Ireland (Phil and June Colclough)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 08 Sep 19 - 06:34 AM

I remember Phil with gratitude as one of those who made me feel welcome when I first moved to London to join the Critics Group - he also helped find me somewhere to live, with a teacher colleague and her husband (the latter, a fascinating man, a Jewish doctor who had infiltrated Mosley's Blackshirts to pass information to the anti-nazis)
Phil was originally a merchant seaman, from Liverpool I think, but moved to Stoke on Trent and was recruited from there to join the Group - somewhere along the line he joined the Fire Service
In the spirit of Critics practice, I'm afraid, Song for Ireland does nothing for me - I think it an over-sentimental outsider's view of my now chosen home.
He wrote far better songs, I seem to remember - coincidentally I was listening to his singing of 'Leaving of London' on a Critics Group meeting recording last week
Jim Carroll