Origins: The Green Hills of Clare

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Feb 17 - 01:28 AM

I'm making a MIDI of the version sung by PJ Murrihy.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMoQGcvn7L8

I think the tune would make a lovely waltz to end an evening of country dance. The challenge is to capture the sweet old waltz without absorbing the backward-looking lyrics.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: AmyLove
Date: 20 Feb 17 - 05:04 AM

Maybe "falls, views, and glories" — "falls" as in "waterfalls."

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: AmyLove
Date: 20 Feb 17 - 02:13 AM

I know I'm nitpicking, but in PJ Murrihy's and Ann Kirrane's versions of this song, this line is sung differently:

I've heard all her stories, of her famed views and glories

They sing something different from "famed views" — Murrihy at around 1:37 in his video and Kirrane at around 2:11 in hers. If anyone wants to satisfy my curiosity, let me know what they're singing. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Apr 14 - 06:49 AM

.. as I thought!

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: Alan.Ackerman
Date: 20 Apr 14 - 02:30 AM

Listening to song onYou Tube, I think "too scared to impart" is really "too sacred to impart".

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Good call, Alan. Correction made. -Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: Jim Martin
Date: 19 Apr 14 - 06:36 AM

'Blue clicky' Youtube link to Kate Purcell posted above!

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: GUEST,George Henderson
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 11:37 PM

Thanks Joe. We remember your visit to Bray. When are you coming back?

We are singing in Bray tonight with guest Kate Purcell. See and hear her on u tube. She sings the Green Hills of Clare.

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Hi, George. The singaround at Bray was the high point of my visit to Ireland. You can bet I'll be back. And a big part of what was good about Bray, was the gracious welcome you gave to me.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 09:08 PM

Thanks, George. It's always nice to hear from you.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 02:25 PM

"The Green Hills of Clare                                                               
A very popular song in Co. Clare. The authorship remains unknown. Both the lyrics and music would indicate 1920's-1940's."

from

http://falalero.ohost.de/1irland4.htm

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: Jim Martin
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 08:52 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqE-JYI4qPw

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 03:53 AM

Cross-posted, George.

The ITMA catalogue shows several recordings and lists publication in various songbooks - none of which look likely to have background notes. Many are undated - which doesn't help. I'll see what I can find out.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: GUEST,George Henderson
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 03:48 AM

Hi Joe.

I got the song back in the early 70's from the great concertina player Pakie Russell in Doolin, Co. Class. It was the only song I ever heard him sing and I was fortunate to record it because he never sang it again before he died.

I only started to look for the history/author of the song yesterday.

A number of people are singing it now, particularly in Co. Clare. I would like to find out how old it is and who wrote it. It is relevant to Ireland this year because the Battle of Clontarf, which started as a battle between Brian Boru king of Munster against the King of Leinster but which incorporated the Vikings who had settled near Dublin. Battle took place on Good Friday 1014.

Brian was stabbed in his tent. His murderer was persued and publicly disemboweled later that day.

My knowledge of this encounter is very limited and what I have said above may not be entirely accurate.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 03:46 AM

Incidentally, I imagine the exiles thoughts in Verse 4 were "sacred" rather than "scared'?

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green Hills of Clare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Apr 14 - 03:35 AM

Ha! I recognised neither the title nor the verse given by George - but as soon as I saw the full text I could sing along! I think we used to learn this in school many years ago, singing it to a much more martial version of the tune - which is essentially "Scotland the Brave" (and "O'Donnel Abú", to us Irish).

Offhand, I don't remember anything about its origin - though my guess would be either 1890's or 1930's. A corner of my brain says it was priest-written, so to speak.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green hills of Clare
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 07:41 PM

Hi, George -
Gee, I haven't heard of that song at all. Can you tell us where you came across the song? It's not listed in Roud, but there are several recordings available.
-Joe-

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THE GREEN HILLS OF CLARE

Though I have travelled many lands, to far off Australian sands
My thoughts turn to Erin when my day’s toil is done
I travelled Great Britain o’er, I’m now on Columbia’s shore
The birth place of freedom and the famed Washington

Scenes of splendour I have met, amongst them all I can’t forget
A vine covered cottage with roses quiet rare
It stands on a pleasant vale far o’er the seas in Inishfail
The home of my childhood my sweet County Clare

I love my country through and through from Loop Head to Killaloe
It’s round towers and abbeys I love and revere
I’ve heard all her stories, of her famed views and glories
From the groves of Tir Connell to the coast of Cape Clear

And deep in each exile’s heart, are thoughts too sacred to impart
Concerning my childhood and my playmates so fair
Let nobody blame me, let no Treaty defame me
When I speak of my birthplace, in my sweet County Clare

Kincora’s proud halls are gone but Claremen still battle on
With courage unaltered, unswerving and true
As in days when victorious ‘neath sunburst so glorious
They marched into battle led by King Brian Boru

On Clontarf’s historic plain they vanquished the daring Dane
Though slain by a Viking while kneeling in prayer
The Norsemen were scattered wide, their galleys sunk beneath the tide
And Brian was avenged by the Dal Cais from Clare

And if that day Clare men proved true, we’ve men today like Brian Boru
Ever ready and willing to do and to dare
To march down the Shannonside and charge by the cannon-side
And drive the invader from the green hills of Clare

lyrics from http://www.irishmusicdaily.com/green-hills-of-clare-lyrics-and-chords

recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMoQGcvn7L8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqE-JYI4qPw (Kate Purcel)

Subject: RE: Origins: The Green hills of Clare
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 07:18 PM

refresh

Subject: Folklore: The Green hills of Clare
From: GUEST,George Henderson
Date: 17 Apr 14 - 02:32 PM

I am looking for the history/author of this song. The opening stanza is:

I have roamed in foreign lands and far off Australia's strands
My mind turns to Erin when my days work is done
I've roamed England o'er and o'er and now I'm in Columbia's shore
The birthplace of freedom and famed Washington.

Would be nice to know something about the song considering it is the 1000th anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf tomorrow.

I would appreciate any assistance in this regard
Thanks