Looking for songs from County Louth

Subject: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Gulliver
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 08:00 PM

For a family project I'm looking for lyrics (and music if possible) of songs from County Louth, Ireland (my granny's family comes from just south of Dundalk). I'm starting with songs in the English language--there's a book and recordings in Irish but that's another day's work. So far I've got the following:

Dear Dundalk
Football Final 1957
Grand Old County Louth
Victorious Roche
Wren Boys Song
The Soiree at Skull Hill
The Turfman from Ardee
The Woods of County Louth
Farewell to Carlingford
The Rose of Ardee
The Hurling Match at Bavan, Omeath, 1750
Election Ballad of 1826
Liberty's Battle (election song)
Usurpation Conquered (election song)
Cooley Mountains

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 01:23 AM

Only one offhand: 'Is Clogherhead Like It Used to Be?'

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 02:36 AM

Have you looked up Mary Anne Carolan's songs and those of her brother, Pat Usher; the Roud index (on line) should help?
Mary Anne was one of the best Irish singers in the English language IMO.
The only singer listed in the BBC index was Margaret Barry, who was a street singer and given as being born in Dundalk.
Sean Corcoran did a lot of collecting there in the 70s and 80s, as did Jim McArdle.
Will see if there is anything we have here later.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 02:56 AM

Where are you? You need a day in the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin!

Regards

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Brakn
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 03:09 AM

There's a couple here that you haven't got.


And here to listen to "The Town of Dundalk".

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Gulliver
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 10:57 AM

Thanks Brakn, I'll check them out. Do you have any Colemans or Mallons in your family tree? I've tracked the Colemans back to the 18th century in Crumlin (about 3 miles south of Dundalk). I believe the Mallons lived closer to Dundalk.

Martin, I live in Dublin, and what makes it worse, I'm a director of a library that's located next door to the trad archive. It's just a matter of finding the time!

Thanks also to Jim

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 01:01 PM

Seán Corcoran's definitely your man and learnt much of his repertoire from Mary Ann Carolan and Pap Usher (note the correct spellings when you're searching). If you need contact details, then please send me a PM.

Though Margaret Barry did often venture into Louth from her latter-day base in Crossmaglen, she was definitely born in Cork.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Brakn
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 02:03 PM

I know a couple of Colemans in Dundalk and there are mallons in Ardee but no relation!

Best of luck with your project.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 01:36 PM

Una and Tony of No Fixed Abode have written quite a few songs about Una's home in County Louth.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Gulliver
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 09:25 PM

I've placed the first lot of songs on my web site here (lyrics, videos and MP3s where available). I still have to follow up on the info kindly provided by Jim Carroll, Geoff Wallis, Brakn and WLD and will update the songs as I get new information.

In the meantime in the trad archive I found a copy of Pléaraca Dhún Dealgan (Humours of Dundalk) by Séamas Mac Seáin (published around 1982) which contains 46 songs in Irish and English relating to County Louth. I'll upload a few of the older ones which have been published elsewhere, such as The Star of Sweet Dundalk, The Pride of Dundalk Town, soon, but would like to try to contact the author of this book before lifting any more as I'm not sure of the copyright issues.

Don

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 09:43 PM

Gulliver,

Another source for you might be Louth-native John Barry - the proprietor of Paddy's on the Square just north of Chicago.   I spent a day with him once - had a few tunes in his store, etc. - and he was spinning yarns about Louth throughout - a delightful man. Here's a link:

John Barry's Story

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 09:50 PM

Oooops... the man is Paddy - John is his son's name.   Same link however... (duh)

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 02:54 AM

Gulliver,
This is a list of recordings given to us by Jim McCardle.
The tape is made up mostly of Mrs Carolan playing concertina, but these are the songs.
Particularly of interest (to me) is Pap Usher's beautiful version of 'Wild Rover'
Sorry, intended to pass this on some time ago but it slipped my mind.
Jim Carroll

Pap Usher, Tenure. Co. Louth.

The Wild Rover                                
Hibernia's Lovely Jane.
St. Patrick's Day In The Morning.
Trip We Took Over The Mountains.
James Of Julianstown.
Hero Of Bonny Carlow.
Castle Of Montgomery.

Mrs Carolan,

The Week's Wedding                        
Molly McCleary
Erin's Flowery Plain.   
I Wish I Was Single Again.
The Trip We Took Over The Mountains.
On London So Fair.   
The Blackbird Of Sweet Avondale.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Gulliver
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 09:47 AM

(this is my third attempt at submitting this--gremlins at work...)

Ooops! I just noticed that the Irish accented characters in my last post were not resolved in HTML. The title of the work is: Pléaracha Dhún Dealgan (Humours of Dundalk) by Séamas Mac Seáin.

Thanks Jim.

Don

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Brakn
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 10:31 AM

Don, the author also uses the anglised version of his name - Jim Johnston. There is an address inside the book where he can be contacted; he was at that address in 2002.

If you have trouble getting hold of him I might be able to help.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: ard mhacha
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 11:12 AM

Gulliver, For Mallons and Colemans Armagh is the County and also neighbouring Tyrone for Colemans.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Big Tim
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 01:57 PM

I strongly recommend a book called 'A Hidden Ulster; people, songs and traditions of Oriel' by Pádraigín Ní Ullachain. Oriel takes in parts of Armagh, Monaghan and Louth.

The book is over 500 pages long, has hundreds of songs, numerous original 'folk' photos and very, very informed comment.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 07:56 AM

Padraigin ni Ullachain is an excellent folk singer the wife of folk singer Len Graham, she can be seen singing on You Tube, on the Highland Sessions. Bye the way `A Hidden Ulster, very good.
Forgot to add regarding the surnames, Mallon also Tyrone.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Gulliver
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 03:00 PM

Yes, as I intimated in my first post, I am aware of Pádraigín Ní Ullachain's book, but as far as I'm aware it concentrates on songs in Irish (although providing English translations). It's a massive book, but there's no way I'd have time to read it in the near future.

IIRC, there are also references to songs in Irish in the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal, and in the 1909 copy also to tunes collected in Oriel (North Louth, South Armagh, etc) and to ballads with some connection to Louth (Donnellan: Oriel Songs and Dances).

When I get enough songs together I'll take a closer look at the tunes from the CLAH Journal, the notes of which I've already digitized. The names of most of them are familiar to me, but there could be variations in the melodies. I believe the fiddler Gerry O'Connor has recorded an album of tunes from Louth, and his mother had a collection of same.

By the way, this collection is just for the family (I've traced my g-g-g-g-grandfather Owen Coleman to about 1775 in Crumlin, just south of Dundalk)--it's not meant to be an academic work!

Thanks for the help, Don

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: GUEST,Me
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 04:56 AM

Does anyone know where I could download Dear Dundalk? itunes doesnt have it, and i'd really like it.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 02:21 AM

I note the first altar in St,Patricks Cathedral in New York is sponsored by the Coleman Family of County Louth. built circa 1890

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 03:44 AM

La Lugh

"Gerry O'Connor, fiddle player with Skylark and Eithne Ni Uallachain, a truly beautiful singer and an excellent flute player, join forces to present a collection of songs and music from their native south Ulster. Many of the tunes have never been recorded before, and the songs are most unusual."

1. Mal Bhan Ni Chuilleannain (The Destitutuion)
2. Sterling Tom (Tommy Bhetty's)
3. One Morning in May
4. The Wedding Jig (Aunt Lizzie's)
5. Liostail me le Sairsint
6. The Shetland Bus
7. The Donnellan Set
8. The Road to Clady
9. The Mummers' March (Bog an Lochain, Rosebuds in Summer, Launching the boat)
10. Fa dTear Mo Mhuirnin Fhainnigh
11. Oiche fa Fheil' Bride (On Brigid's Eve)
12. The Boy in his Pants (Big John's Jig)
13. The Emigrant's Farewell
14. The Drogheda Lassies (The Donegal Traveller, Lisa Ornstein's).

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 04:43 AM

Una Walsh of the duo No Fixed Abode - currently gigging the UK folkscene - is a native of County Louth - many of the songs that she and her partner Tony Dean have written are about County Louth.

http://www.freewebs.com/musicnfa/

Next gig is this Thursday in Dewlish somewhere in the depths of Dorset. Last time i went to Dewlish for a jazz conceert, I have a distinct memory of travelling little countrty lanes with grass growing in the middle. I suspect there is only one music venue in the village.

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: David Ingerson
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 04:45 AM

This is probably not the sort of song you're looking for (since it's relatively newly composed and, although about Dundalk, probably not from Dundalk) but it sure is a fun song about an incident in Dundalk. I recorded Finbarr Boyle singing it in one of the early traditional song classes at the Willie Clancy Summer School in 1984. I suspect that he composed it but I'm not sure about that.

I called it "The Raid on Eoine's". It starts out: "One evening late onto Crowe Street I strayed..."

Since it has nine verses of eight lines each, I won't take the time to enter it all here, but if you, Gulliver, are interested (or indeed even seeing this resurrection of your old question), I'll be glad to give you what I have.

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Gulliver
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 11:27 AM

I'm back again on Mudcat after a long hiatus during which I had the opportunity to meet and listen to Padraigin ni Ullachain and Len Graham in Dublin. Will continue with this project off and on. Don

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: MartinRyan
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 05:48 PM

A recent CD by Sean Corcoran, Donal Maguire and Gerry Cullen was entitled "Louth Mouths from Drogheda" - as suggested by Briain O'Rourke! I'll post details later.

Regards

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Deskjet
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:01 PM

If I may....
the land of my mother's people....

Dromin

Subject: RE: Looking for songs from County Louth
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:41 PM

I bought the new CD of songs from County Louth from Donal Maguire when he was in Liverpool last week, and can really recommend the excellent singing by all three. Apparently the CD was launched at Milltown Malbay in July, but there will be a relaunch at Sidmouth with all three former members of the parish choir of St Peter's in Drogheda! Check Rossendale Records website for more information.

Matthew