Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????

Subject: Who Wrote Killkelly?
From: Judy G
Date: 01 Jan 00 - 11:26 PM

Howdy Folkies, Can anyone tell me who wrote the song "Killkelly" and where he is located? I have heard it's in the Washington DC area. Thanx!

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Killkelly?
From:
Date: 01 Jan 00 - 11:39 PM

If you look at the DT version

KILKELLY, Ireland

it gives the author's name. Unfortunately, it doesn't give any details on his current location. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Killkelly?
From: Brakn
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 08:18 AM

If you type "Kilkelly" in the Forum Quicksearch you will find previous threads.

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Killkelly?
From: selby
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 10:51 AM

The info I have is that a guy called Peter Jones wrote it after finding a bundle of letters sent to his ggrandfather in Ireland. He passed the song on to 3 muscians in the US who are Mick Moloney Jimmy Keane & Robbie O'Connell. Info from sleeve notes on a Cd called Bringing It All Back Home. Hope this Helps Keith

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Killkelly?
From: Judy G
Date: 09 Jan 00 - 11:05 PM

Thanx Keith, I appreciate the help.

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Killkelly?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 10 Jan 00 - 12:12 AM

Peter Jones, 904 Prospect St. Takoma park MD 20912. I know, I recorded this great song, and pay Peter royalties. All the best. Seamus

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Kilkelly?
From: GUEST,Dilantha
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 03:04 AM

Superb song !!

Anyone know to find a picture of the singer ?

Thanx guys

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Kilkelly?
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 18 Jul 07 - 07:35 AM

Peter Jones is Executive Director of the Labor Heritage Foundation in Washington DC. Last December, Peter and his brother Steve performed at a Joe Glazer Tribute Concert in Maryland, and they did "Killkelly". They were singing together in public for the first time in many years. You might try one of the above contacts for a photo.

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Kilkelly?
From: GUEST,Charlie Micallef
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 03:10 PM

Peter Jones sings the song at every Leadership II class for the Machinists Union in Hollywood, Maryland. He and his brother Steve perform many labor history songs at those sessions. Kilkelly is important because it says something to all those who came from around the world to build the North American Labor Movement.

Subject: RE: Who Wrote Kilkelly?
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 05:33 PM

I just wanted you all to know that at least one Kilkelly made his way to the west coast many years ago. It may please you to know that he was a union man, working for a liquor distributor (what else) in San Diego and Los Angeles. He was a fine competitor and a keen wit.

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly
From: GUEST,NITA JONES
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 04:04 PM

Seamus .. do you know if it's possible to get a copy of the google video of Kilkelly Ireland (the peter jones one)?
Also, where can I buy a cd of the song. I'm in the DC area so if there's a place close that would be great!

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly
From: oldhippie
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 04:30 PM

Nita,
Two additional recordings not noted above are by Phyllis Morrissey (on "Woman of the Island") and Jim Brannigan (on "Troubadour")

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly
From: Arkie
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 06:47 PM

Elwood Donnelly and Aubrey Atwater have recorded a very good version of the song. They have a site on the internet and a CD could be purchased through their site I think. The bonus there is you would also get a lot of other wonderful songs very well done. Both Elwood and Aubrey and great singers as well as excellent musicians.

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 06:56 PM

There's also an excellent version by The Cast (Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis) - see

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 06:57 PM

hmmm, dunno what happened there! trying again...

There's also an excellent version by The Cast (Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis) - see here

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 12:33 PM

Nita - if you join up and PM me here, I can send you a copy of the song.
I live in Annapolis, so it wouldn't be a problem.

As for a google video, I have no idea at all about that.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 05:14 PM

Here's an e-mail I got today:

Hi Joe

I'm a songwriter and am always on the look out for adaptable - aren't they all? - melodies and I wonder if you know of the provenance of the music used in the song Kilkelly, Ireland. I've seen in my research references to its copyright but I'd like to know if it itself is a variation on another tune. Have you any ideas on this one?

Thanks for your help.

Seems to me I read somewhere that the tune for this song is traditional, but of course I can't find that information now that I need it.

Anyone know where the tune comes from?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 02:52 AM

Refresh. Is the tune for "Kilkelly" and original melody, or is it taken from an older song?

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 04:52 AM

Can't say I recognise it, even varying the pace and time. Credits often list both Pete and Steve Jones - is it possible the brother composed it?

Regards

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 09:01 AM

The tune is basically the same as the song known in Gaelic Scotland as "Mairi bhan og". Is there an Irish version of that which a songwriter would have come across a few decades ago?

I find it an effective song to hear once, but it's got a touch of the Eric Bogles about it - rather too long.

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: GUEST,Des Wade
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 01:59 AM

Hi folks - I was the one who originally asked the question about the origin of the tune. I've listened to Mairi Bhan Og - and that one only reminds me of Greensleeves! Probably these old ears - but yes, there is a hint of Kilkelly in there. Any other ideas as to its origins? Thanks for the help.

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 07:44 AM

"Kilkelly" spins the tune out because it more syllables to fit in, but it's a straightforward variation.

"Mairi bhan og" is and was a very popular song, and most songwriters in the British Isles would have heard it, in the standard Scottish version. I was wondering if there was an Irish variant that would have been even more familiar to Peter Jones - it's an old enough song that I doubt its origins can be pinned down to one side of the Irish Sea or the other. (contemplator.com ascribes the tune to Duncan Ban Macintyre, which I don't think is likely).

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: MartinRyan
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 08:00 AM

Got an online version of Mairi Bhan Og I can listen to ?

Regards

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 08:12 AM

There's a couple of dozen versions on YouTube, all much the same as far as I've looked. You'll recognize it when you hear one.

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: GUEST,Patmike
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 08:24 AM

Peter Jones was in Ireland before Christmas.
He visited Kilkelly in Mayo where they gave him a police escort and he was piped into the town by a lone piper.
He sang the song at mass in the local church before meeting a load of residents in a local pub.
I met with him in Kilmacanogue, a few days later, with a few other singers and he sang for us.
He comes across as a lovely guy.
He was not really aware of his Irishness until he found the letters.
He then wrote the song.
Afterwards he got some song sheets of Irish music, to hear what Irish music was like, and then composed the air.
Or that is my recollection of what he said.

Subject: RE: Origin: Kilkelly - tune origins????
From: GUEST,Des Wade
Date: 17 Mar 14 - 02:14 AM

Thanks Jack, Patmike and Joe. As my own song progresses in the writing it's getting a life of it's own - becoming a distant cousin of Kilkelly's. Ironically, co-incidentally, appropriately it's a song about the unfortunate decline of the trade unions here in Australia. I never knew anything about the Jones men except their name, and it's great to see that they are union men and perform at union events. Slán agus go raibh maith agat arís. And happy St Patrick's Day to you all too! Des