Banks of Screen

Subject: Banks of Screen
From: mg
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 03:58 AM

It doesn't get much better than this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXi8iSF0Tao&feature=related

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 06:24 AM

No shit !

eric

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 11:39 AM

It's the Verdant Braes of Skreen. Nice though.

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Tim
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 02:58 PM

Ballynascreen, according to John Moulden.

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Jim I
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 06:32 PM

With all due respect to John Moulden, I've been singing 'The Verdant Braes o' Skreen' for over 40 years and that's the name I'm keeping. Of course it could be that 'originally' it was something else - that's a totally different thing.

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 07:46 PM

You can look up 'Skreen Ireland' on GoogleEarth and get a look at Skreen. It's on the Skryne Hill road, something I think should be mentioned in the song. The poetic possibilities of a Skreen on Skryne are obvious.

It is northeast of Tara.

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 03:43 AM

The Corries used to do this one when Paddie Bell was with them.

That guy who was in Drowsy Maggie - Mick Hipkess, used to do a decent version also. One for the teenagers there.

1983 - did they have video cameras that long ago - or was it a film?

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Tim
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 09:18 AM

I sure that it was on a Mudcat thread that JM made his comment and identified the 'Skreen' in question as the parish of Ballynascreen near Draperstown in County Derry. 'Screen is used in the song title as it scans rather better (and is probably used locally as it is quicker and easier to say).

(I couldn't find the relevant thread, can anyone else?)

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 01:21 PM

'The Verdant Braes of Skreen' is often associated with the village of that name in County Sligo which makes no sense at all in relation to the lyrics' reference to 'a Connaught girl' since noone in Skreen would worry about that.

The parish of Ballynascreen in Co. Derry includes Draperstown, but there's not actually any place or townland within that parish called Ballynascreen. However, the parish's name derives from the erstwhile importance of Ballynascreen Church - http://bit.ly/kPvv8.

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Tim
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 02:22 PM

Geoff, what are the 'associations' with Skreen in Galway. Anything specific, or is it just the name - 'Screen'?

I'm a bit hazy on the lyrics (since Louis Killen) but Galway is in the province of Connaught (Connacht).

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 03:01 PM

Er, Tim,

I didn't mention Galway at all!

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Les from Hull
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 03:33 PM

Skryne in Co Meath? Has it got braes and are they particularly verdant?

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 05:14 PM

obviously transferred later to the big Skreen.....

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Tim
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 09:24 AM

My blunder Geoff! I knew there was a Skreen in Sligo but not Galway!

Unless we have some way of connecting the song to a particular Skreen, then it could be any of them.

Draperstown (Ballynascreen) is at the foot of Slieve Gallion braes!

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 11:59 AM

Hmm, it depends how you define 'at the foot of' since Draperstown is some 8km from Slieve Gallion!

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Tim
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 02:08 PM

Hmm, all of 5 miles: not forgetting the braes themselves; that's not far.

I still wonder about the 'associations' with Skreen in Sligo?

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Tim
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 07:29 AM

Actually if you look at the OS map (or Google earth), you will see that the braes come almost right down to Draperstown.

(Skreen (in Irish, Scrín) means 'shrine'. Re the Skreen in Meath, the relics of Colm Cille (Columba) were transferred there in the year 878 to preserve them from marauding Vikings in Iona).

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 02:36 PM

Have you ever been to Draperstown, Tim?

Subject: RE: Banks of Screen
From: Big Tim
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 11:10 AM

No Geoff, I haven't.

A few thoughts: comments and criticism welcomed.

There are at least 3 Skreens (or Screens, different spelling, same meaning): in Meath, Sligo, and Wexford - plus Ballynascreen.

Meath and Wexford, I'd be inclined to discount because a. I doubt that the Scots word 'brae' would be used so far south, b. they are both in low-lying country.

Sligo, I'd also be inclined to discount because of the Connaught thing (Sligo is in Connaught), which Geoff mentioned, plus located in low, flat country.

Draperstown is used merely as a locational point for the Parish of Ballynascreen. It is located in the Sperrin Hills and has ample braes around it. Just a mile south of the crossroads of Draperstown, the land rises quite steeply to 500 feet in the townland of Drumard (itself meaning 'high ridge). For me, that's close enough to be described as 'at the foot of'. Check the contours. Tho not perfect, the OS maps don't get basic things like that wrong. Draperstown is 4.4 miles from the summit of Slieve Gallion, with the braes in between.

Topographically (and linguistically), Ballynascreen seems to me to be the most likely (known) candidate.