Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy

Subject: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Whistleworks
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 05:04 PM

Dear Friends,

I have it on good authority that George Sigerson wrote The Mountains of Pomeroy. If he did, can anyone tell me if he wrote other songs/tunes and where I may found out something about him?

Thank you very much.

Bob

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Search for "pomeroy" threads

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: MMario
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 05:10 PM

http://www.sundown.pair.com/Sharp/Lyra%20Celtica/modern_irish_4.htm#GEORGE SIGERSON

http://www.sundown.pair.com/Sharp/Lyra%20Celtica/Notes_2.htm#PAGE 168

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Bardford
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 05:16 PM

Bob,

I ran a quick google search "George Sigerson" and came up with a few links. Some are dead ends but this one:

http://www.sundown.pair.com/Sharp/Lyra%20Celtica/Notes_2.htm

yielded the following tidbit:

"The distinguished translator and editor of The Poets and Poetry of Munster was born near Strabane, Co. Tyrone, in 1839. Much of his original work has appeared above his Irish pen-name "Erionnach"; and from first to last Dr Sigerson's name is indissolubly associated with the widereaching Celtic Renascence in Ireland."

Cheers, Bardford

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Whistleworks
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 05:34 PM

Thank you one and all.

Bob

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 06:15 PM

I have been looking for the words of this song for over two years - does anybody know where I can find them?

Hoping somebody will help me

Thanks

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Jimmy C
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 07:05 PM

Here's wjhat I remember of the words.

The morn was breaking bright and fair
And the lark sang in the sky
When a maid she bound her golden hair
With a blythe glance in her eye
For who beyond the grey green woods
Was a-waiting her with joy
O who but gallant Renardine
On the mountains of Pameroy

Full often in the dawning hour and in the twilight brown
He met the maid in the greenwood bowewr
Where the sdtream comes flowing down
For they were faithful in a love
No war could ere destroy
No tyrannts law touched Renardine
On the mountains of Pomeroy

My love, my love I am sore afraid
of my cruel kin and you
They have tracked you through the leafy glade
And all the valleys through
My kinsmen frown when you are named
Your life they would destroy
Beware they say of Renardine on the Mountains of Pomeroy

Fear not, fear not my Love he cried of your cruel kin and me
........................................................................................................................................
So leave your cruel kin and come
When the lark is is in the sky
Abd with my gun I'll guard you
upon the mountain high.

More will come later - but try the DT in the meantime.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 08:00 PM

Aha! I wondered who "Eirronach" was!

Regards

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Stewie
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 08:45 PM

You will find the lyrics here:

Mountains of Pomeroy

I have it on a very old Elektra LP called the 'Patriot Game' by a group called The Irish Ramblers - Pat, Brendan and Eugene Clancy. They went to America in the early 60s and played places like Gate of Horn, Gerde's Folk City, Unicorn etc. Great LP.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Jimmy C
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:07 PM

Thanks Stewie,

I had most of them in my head but just could not recall all of them.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Jimmy C
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:10 PM

Thanks Stewie,

I had most of them in my head but just could not recall all of them.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:27 PM

For earlier versions of the song of Rinordine search "Moutains High" in the title index on the Bodley Ballads website (Mudcat's Links).

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 11:32 PM

Look for a recording by Barley Bree with The Mountains of Pomeroy on it. May be a "Best of" recording.

Don.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Whistleworks
Date: 01 Feb 01 - 07:34 AM

Once again, I thank you all for the excellent information.

Bob

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 08:59 AM

information on the translator from Kathleen Hoagland, ed. "1000 Years of Irish Poetry":
George Sigerson (1836-1925) "was born at Holyhill, near Strabane, County Tyrone....His studies in arts and medicine were chiefly in Paris.... He translated and edited the first two volumes of Charcot, on Diseases of the Nervous System. Darwin was interested in his biological work. Professor Tyndal considered that his Microscopic Researches on the Atmosphere (Dublin, 1873) revealed the true nature of organisms whose presence he himself had detected. His medical and scientif works won for him recognition from learned societies on the Continent as well as in England. He was a proficient Gaelic scholar and in 1897 produced an Irish anthology, . He was Fellow of the Royal University; Professor of Biology in University Cloogesm and president of the National Literary Society from 1893 until his death."

You will find quite a list of entries if you do a Mudcat search for Sigerson. He did a some skillful poetic translations to English of songs in Irish, including Sliabh na mBan & An Spailpín Fánach (translated as The Roving Worker).

Subject: RE: George Sigerson
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 09:01 AM

big typo, "Cloogesm" should be "College"

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 09:05 AM

most of the other search entries concern songs by Sigerson Clifford, but there are other threads about Reynardine/Mts of Pomeroy; the translations I already mentioned and the poetic translation of Seán Ó Duibhir an Gleanna.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 10:51 AM

The Sigerson Cup, named after George Sigerson is played for annually by the Irish Universities, Gaelic football teams.. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: ard mhacha
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 12:06 PM

Stewie, Some information on the Clancys , Pat and Brendan have been back living in their old stomping ground Blackwatertown, Armagh, for a number of years, Eugene still lives in the New York area and Leo who also sang with the Group passed away a few years ago. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: Stewie
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 09:41 PM

Ard Mhacha, thanks for the info. It is good to hear that they are still around. Their Elektra album was my first introduction to some lovely Irish and Scots songs that I had not previously heard elsewhere - 'Up Among the Heather', 'Follow Me Up to Carlow', 'Bonny Wee Girl', 'Mormon Braes, 'Captain Freeney', 'Mountains of Pomeroy'. They are all pretty familiar songs now, but not back then. I reckon many artists who are often unfairly dismissed as 'pop folk' - the Clancy Brothers, Corries, Paddy Riley, McCalmans, Corries etc - brought many gems to the attention of a wider audience, and their contribution to interest in, and preservation of, traditional music should not be underestimated or forgotten.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: ard mhacha
Date: 23 Jun 02 - 09:30 AM

Stewie, Right on all counts, the people you mention laid the foundation for many a person who were complete strangers to folk and traditional Irish music. I go back to a time in the 1940s and 50s when people in Ireland gave you a queer sideways glance if you sang an oul come-all-ye, but the aforementioned folk artists paved the way and helped to rescue a tradition that was dying on its feet. I will pass on your sentiments when I see Brendan Clancy. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Writer of Mountains of Pomeroy
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 09:53 AM

I was somewhat surprised to find "The Mountains of Pomeroy" under the heading of "Loyalist Songs" at the Pomeroy True Blues flute Band website