Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)

Subject: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: NEWFOUNDLANDER
Date: 22 Feb 98 - 02:13 PM

Looking for the lyrics for Isle of Inishfree. Might not be correct spelling. Also love to have any links to Irish and Newfoundland music.

---

Isle of Innisfree added to Digital Tradition Oct 1998

Subject: Lyr Add: ISLE OF INNISFREE (Richard Farrelly)
From: alison
Date: 22 Feb 98 - 04:46 PM

Hi,

Here you go...........

ISLE OF INNISFREE

I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away.

And precious things are dreams unto an exile
They take him o'er the land across the sea,
Especially when it happens he's an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree.

And when the moonlight peeps across the roof-tops
Of this great city, wondrous tho' it be
I scarcely feel it's wonder or it's laughter
I'm once again back home in Innisfree.

I wander o'er green hills thro' dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.

And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home, and tenderly behold,
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
On bended knees their rosary is told.

But dreams don't last tho' dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality,
But tho' they paved the footways here with gold dust
I still would choose the Isle of Innisfree.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: NEWFOUNDLANDER
Date: 22 Feb 98 - 07:32 PM

THANKS ALISON

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 05:36 AM

Is this the same island that is praised by W.B. Yeats in his poem "The lake isle of Innisfree"?
Wolfgang

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 11:50 AM

Wolfgang
In the song "Innisfree" is used as a name for Ireland. Yeats was referring (at least on one level) to a specific island in one of the Sligo lakes, as far as I remember.
Regards
p.s You might sometimes hear:
"I will arise and go now - and go where there's Guinness free"!

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Ezio
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 12:39 PM

Lovely song - one of my preferite.

I love especially the version sung by Sean Tyrrell. In this version (spelled INISFREE) the fourth quatrain is different from the one posted by Alison:

And as the moon peeps high along the rooftops

Of this great city wondrous though it be

I scarce can feel its laughter or its music

My heart's again back home in Inisfree.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From:
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 02:33 PM

Does anyone know or have the sheet music to this song?

Thanks,

Trish

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: ard mhacha
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 02:47 PM

Wolfgang, Yes he was referring to an Island on Lough Gill, and Ezio I have also heard your version as well as Allisons. The song was out around 1952 when "The Quiet Man" was released. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: DougR
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 04:29 PM

No wonder. It was the featured musical theme of the movie.

DougR

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: ard mhacha
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 04:51 PM

DougR Right on the nose then, Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: DougR
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 06:34 PM

Twice yet! **BG**

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Barry T
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 08:25 PM

I understand the melody was based on a traditional tune titled Dreams of Alwyn, but I've never been able to find any info on it. Here's my midi sequence for your entertainment.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 08:36 PM

The Dream of Olwen?

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Tiger
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 07:25 AM

I have the sheet music from a nice Foster and Allen songbook. If you'd like me to send you a scan, e-mail me at: [e-mail]

Regards.......Tiger

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: GUEST,Trish
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 01:17 PM

To Tiger,

Thanks for your offer. Yes I would love if you could e-mail me a scanned copy. I have tried to e-mail you but it came back. I need the sheet music to play at the wedding ceremony of a friend of mine. You can e-mail me at [e-mail]

Thanks again,

Trish

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Genie
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 03:18 PM

Barry, I clicked on your MIDI link and it didn't work.

Can someone post a MIDI link for the tune or a link to a site that has the sheet music or an MP3? I have heard the song before but can't quite recall all the tune, and I'd love to add it to my St. Patrick's repertoire.

Thanks,

Genie

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 03:26 PM

Taylor's Traditional Tunebook: Irish Tunes

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Genie
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 03:57 PM

Malcolm, I can't get through to that website right now (it's too busy). But thanks for posting the link!

Genie

Subject: Tune Req.: Isle Of Innisfree
From: Genie
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 12:46 AM

Malcolm, I finally got through to the website, and it's GREAT!--but it did not have "Isle of Innisfree."

Is there another place to find it on the web?

Genie

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Pene Azul
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 12:54 AM

MIDIs:

Dreams of Alwyn (Isle of Innisfree) from this page on Barry Taylor's site (as per Malcolm's link)

Isle of Innisfree from here

MIDI of the melody here in Mudcat MIDIs.

There are other links in this Google search.

Jeff

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 01:08 AM

So, Doug R says this is the featured Theme songo of the film, The Quiet Man. I'm absolutely certain that theme was the tune Rakes of Mallow. Are they the same, then?

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: DougR
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 01:45 AM

Sorcha, I don't know the answer to your question, but I watched The Quiet Man for the umpteenth time tonight, and there is no doubt that it is the main musical theme of The Quiet man.

DougR

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:11 AM

OK, Doug---go here, and choose a MIDI file, probably in G, and see if it is the same tune; please? This is driving me crazy. The Quiet Man theme never actually finishes the song--it's part A only.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:19 AM

OK, I get it now. We are confusing the Main Title theme with the tune that runs throughout the film. Innisfree is the Main Title; Rakes of Mallow part A is the tune that plays a lot for background. I stand corrected.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Tiger
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 08:53 AM

Genie......

I have "Isle of Innisfree" MP3 by Foster & Allen. About 3MB. Very sweet.

Send me a PM if you'd like a copy.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Genie
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 12:07 PM

Thanks so much, Jeff! (Love ya forever, ya know!)

Genie §;-)

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Genie
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 12:22 PM

Thanks, Tiger. Even though I got the tune from the links Jeff posted, I'd love to hear Foster & Allen sing it, so I'll PM you my email address.

Genie

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Genie
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:04 PM

BTW, the lyrics to "Innisfree" in the DT need correcting. This part of the second verse has been left out:

And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
On bended knees their rosary is told.


And the second half of the first verse is repeated, as though it were a chorus or bridge.
I forgot whom I'm supposed to send corrections to--I think it's Jeff or Max, but I'm not sure>

Also, I learned from some of those MIDI sites that the tune is also the tune for "Dreams of Alwyn."

Genie

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: MMario
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:10 PM

genie - they get sent to Joe Offer, or Dick Greenhaus

Subject: Dreams of Alwyn/Isle of Innisfree
From: Genie
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 02:11 PM

I meant to change the subject line above, so the thread would link to "Alwyn" and "Innisfree," but I screwed up, so this post will accomplish that.

Genie

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: DougR
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 06:16 PM

Sorcha: I'm glad you got your question answered satisfactorily. I tried to download several of those files but could not download a single one of them to Real Player.

DougR

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: GUEST,Argenine
Date: 11 Mar 02 - 03:32 AM

Hereis a link to a parody version of the song based on the "Guinness free" idea.

Arge

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE (Yeats)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 10:03 PM

We have the MIDI, but I couldn't find the lyrics/poem at Mudcat.
-Joe Offer-

---

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE
By William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear the water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

1892

Subject: Lyr Add: ISLE OF INNISFREE (Richard Farrelly)
From: Genie
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 10:53 PM

The lyrics in to this song in the DT are still wrong. Lines 9 through 12 are repeated, and lines 13 through 16 are omitted. Since I'm posting this as a lyric correction, I went ahead and added omitted punctuation such as the periods at the ends of sentences. I've also put the chords in, just for the heck of it (since I already had it formatted that way in my files).

Genie

ISLE OF INNISFREE
From "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats; tune: "Dreams of Alwyn"

I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer,
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say,
But, sure, a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away.

And precious things are dreams unto an exile.
They take him o'er the land across the sea,
Especially when it happens he's an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree.

And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
Of this great city, wondrous though it be,
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter.
I'm once again back home in Innisfree.

I wander o'er green hills through dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know.
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.

And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered.
On bended knees their rosary is told.

But dreams don't last, though dreams are not forgotten,
And soon I'm back to stern reality.
But, though they pave the footpaths here with gold-dust,
I still would choose my Isle of Innsifree.

Subject: RE: Lyr Correction: Add: Isle Of Innisfree
From: Genie
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 10:58 PM

Dang! I used the same technique for posting chords which I usually do (format in Netscape Composer, copy from Source View, and paste into the thread). It's worked reliably in the past, but not today.

And sorry the chords decided to play musical chairs en route to the forum.

Genie

(I wonder if the changes in Mudcat formatting had anything to do with things that used to work not working now. Is it back to the drawing board?)

Subject: Lyric Correction: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Genie
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:19 PM

Sorry. It is lines 17 through 20 which have been omitted in the DT, not lines 13 through 16.

Genie

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:23 PM

Try Barry Taylor's tune for Isle of Innisfree. Genie, who's the songwriter?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Amergin
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 11:26 PM

hmm...wouldn't mind a decent recording of this song....as hearing genie sing it....it is loverly...

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISHFREE
From: Barry T
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 01:41 AM

The song was written by Dick Farrelly, formerly a Dublin policeman, who died in 1990. As for decent recordings I'd recommend the singer to whom Farrelly passed his new song in or about 1950... Carmel Quinn (www.carmelquinn.com). It was she who made it popular in North America, when she performed it on the Arthur Godfrey Show. Her rendition is superb! (BTW... I was floored to find one of my midis playing in the background when I visited her website! 'Made my day!)

As for Dreams of Alwyn, I recall having quite a discussion with a correspondent who wanted me to sequence the tune. Believing it to be copyrighted, I was reluctant to do so, but she found references to Mr. Farrelly having based his melody on the older, traditional tune. Based on that I sequenced the tune but omitted the lyrics, which are definitely Mr. Farrelly's creation.

I've never been able to find evidence of Dreams of Alwyn since that early discussion (about five years ago) and, quite frankly, I still have doubts as to its existence.

Subject: Lyr Add: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 03:09 AM

Joe, I'm trying this again with the "add line breaks" box UN-checked.  If this comes out screwed up, too, please just delete it.  If not, we will have figured out the source of the problem.

Genie

ISLE OF INNISFREE
From "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats; tune: "Dreams of Alwyn"

I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer,
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say,
But, sure, a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away.
And precious things are dreams unto an exile.
They take him o'er the land across the sea,
Especially when it happens he's an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree.

 And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
 Of this great city, wondrous though it be,
 I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter.
 I'm once again back home in Innisfree.
 
 
I wander o'er green hills through dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know.
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.
And then into a humble shack I wander,
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered.
On bended knees their rosary is told.

But dreams don't last, though dreams are not forgotten,
And soon I'm back to stern reality.
But, though they pave the footpaths here with gold-dust,
I still would choose my Isle of Innsifree.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 03:18 AM

Mystery solved (re posting chords in the right position): if you are posting something that contains html code and text, with the html code for line breaks already in your post, UN-CHECK the "Automatic Linebreaks" box before you post!

I also just discovered the wonderful new "Preview" box. That should help us avoid many a screwed up post!

Mudcat just gets better and better!

Genie

PS, Barry, I well remember Carmel Quinn. Wonderful voice! I'm sure she did this song beautifully. And thanks for the info on the lyricist who wrote the words for this song. In previous postings of the lyrics for this song, it says it is based on Yeats's poem, but I really see little resemblance of Farrelly's lyrics to Yeat's words, except for mention of the Isle of Innisfree itself.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 04:35 AM

Genie is right - there is no connection other than the one word.

Regards

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Verna
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 03:52 PM

It is definitely the theme used for the Quiet Man. I have been singing it for about 45 years!! Yes I'm that old!!

For those interested this year throuought the year there is a Quite Man 50th anniversary celebration happening at Cong in Co Mayo where the film was shot.

I have no idea if Olwen or Alwyn is going to be there but I rather doubt it.

All year there have been look alike competitions for participants in the celebrations in Mayo. More information availbale from the Irish Post newspaper published in UK.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 04:41 AM

Thanks for the kind words, Nathan. Come back to the Sunday jams, and we can sing it again. *G*

Genie

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: ISLE OF INNISFREE (Dick Farrelly)
From: Genie
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 07:28 PM

Here are the corrected lyrics, with chords added.  In the DT, the lines of the first chorus are repeated and the last four lines of the second verse are omitted.

Genie
 

ISLE OF INNISFREE
Lyrics: Dick Farrelly, perhaps inspired by "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats; tune: "Dreams of Alwyn"

                       G           G7                   C
I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer,
                    D                  D7                      G
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say,
                   G         G7                 C
But, sure, a body's bound to be a dreamer
                      D             D7               G
When all the things he loves are far away.
                      G             G7                   C
And precious things are dreams unto an exile.
                       D          D7                  G
They take him o'er the land across the sea,
                  G         G7                   C
Especially when it happens he's an exile
                        D       D7             G
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree.

                        C                                      G
 And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
                     A       A7                         D  D7
 Of this great city, wondrous though it be,
                G         G7                C
 I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter.
                  D            D7                G
 I'm once again back home in Innisfree.
 

I wander o'er green hills through dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know.
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.
And then into a humble shack I wander,
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered.
On bended knees their rosary is told.

 But dreams don't last, though dreams are not forgotten,
 And soon I'm back to stern reality.
 But, though they pave the footpaths here with gold-dust,
 I still would choose my Isle of Innsifree.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Gerard Farrelly - SON OF THE COMPOSER
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 07:57 PM

Gerard Farrelly
Seolta Records
19 Bayview Avenue
North Strand
Dublin 3
EIRE
E-mail [e-mail]

Re: "The Isle Of Innisfree"

I discovered this wonderful website recently and with great interest.

To everyone who has been inquiring about or posting information on the song "Isle Of Innisfree" - theme of John Ford's classic film,"The Quiet Man", please allow me to clarify some issues on the subject.

I am a professional musician, who resides at the above address and I am the son of the composer of this song. My father's name was Richard Farrelly but he was better known all his life as Dick Farrelly and he was a member of An Garda Siochana, (The Irish Police-force). He died in August 1990 at the family home in Churchtown, Dublin. My father wrote the words and music of the "Isle Of Innisfree" in 1949 on a bus journey to Dublin from his hometown of Kells,Co.Meath.
This was his most famous song. It became a huge international hit for Bing Crosby in 1952 and was chosen by John Ford as the theme music for "The Quiet Man", however, neither my father's name nor the title of the song appeared in the production credits. Victor Young was credited with the entire musical score. The publishers of the song are Peter Maurice Music Limited who are now part of EMI Music Publishing.

To find out more about my father and the history of this and other songs he wrote, please visit the website - stoneandfarrelly.com - The website is that of the Irish singer Sinead Stone and myself.

We have recently released our debut album, "Legacy of a Quiet Man", which is a collection of my father's best known songs including the "Isle Of Innisfree"; the CD is available through our website.

Incidentally, my father was not writing about the same place in Co. Sligo that W.B.Yeats wrote about in his poem "Lake Isle Of Innisfree". There is no connection whatsoever between the poem and the song. Also, the song is totally original and is not based on any other work.

I would be delighted to hear from anyone who may be interested in the song, my father, or our CD "Legacy of a Quiet Man". You may e-mail me at the above.

On a personal note - It is a source of great pleasure to both myself and the family that 50 years after my father composed this song and 12 years since his death, that so many people the world over so love his "Innisfree", and are still recording and performing it.

Kind regards,
Gerard Farrelly

PS: The second last line of the song is - "But though they paved the footways here with gold-dust" and not "pave the footpaths".

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Noreen
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 08:09 PM

Thanks for that, Gerard.

Can you explain why the tune is known as "Dreams of Alwyn", please?

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Big Tim
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 05:10 AM

Gerard: is Innisfree a real place name then, if not the "Lake Isle", and if so, where is it? Somewher near Kells?

I have Joseph Locke singing it and there it IS credited to "Farrelly". How could the film people use the song without crediting it to the composer, didn't he copyright it?

All the best and thanks,
BT

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Brakn
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 06:17 AM

The tune is nothing like the "Dreams of Alwyn".

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Brakn
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 06:23 AM

That might have been a hasty post. My mother says that the "Dreams of Alwyn" is a totally different air. So I looked for it on Google and came up with "the Isle of Innishfree". Will ask my mother to play it.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Brakn
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 06:30 AM

Ahhhh Getting confused with the classical piece 'Dream of Olwyn Olwen'.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Alice
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 10:19 AM

Gerard, thank you for posting the information about your father and the true history of the song. Please join the Mudcat membership. I expect that you would have more to share that many here would find of interest. Beautiful song, talented composer, your father.

Alice Flynn in Montana

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Alice
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 10:26 AM

Link to web site for Legacy of a Quiet Man
http://www.stoneandfarrelly.com/

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Alice
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 10:28 AM

Lyrics page for ISLE OF INNISFREE on the Farrelly web site:
http://www.stoneandfarrelly.com/songs/cd1t2.htm

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Gerard Farrelly - SON OF THE COMPOSER
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 11:43 AM

Dear Noreen,

The tune is not known as "The Dream of Alwyn", someone is making a huge mistake here. "The Isle Of Innisfree" and "The Dream Of Alwyn" are two totally different works, written by different composers and at very different times. This can be verified by the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society.

Hi Tim,

My father used the word "Innisfree" as a metaphor for Ireland. He once said in an interview that it was Ireland he had in mind when he wrote the song. In relation to my father not getting a credit in the film, this kind of thing happened a lot then. Very often Hollywood just gave a single credit to the person who orchastrated the musical score. Today as you know, every small piece of music that appears in a movie must by law be credited, usually at the end of the film.

Another great example of this is in the film "Casablanca". The famous song from that film is "As Time Goes By" - again the writer of that song never got a credit. I think it was Bernard Herman who got the only credit for the music, it might have been Max Stiner, I can't remember.
The use of "Isle Of Innisfree" in The Quiet Man was above board and my father has always received his due royalties from the film and recordings of the song. It's just very sad that he was not given his due credit, which is part of the reason why there is so much confusion about the song.

Dear Alice,

Thank you very much for your kind remarks, I will email you soon.


Kind regards to all,
Gerard Farrelly

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Airto
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 12:40 PM

A planning consultant I once briefly worked for applied to Sligo County Council for permission to

"... arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade".

They turned him down on the grounds that it would be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.

Subject: Lyr/Authorship Correction: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 01:13 PM

Gerard, thanks so much for correcting the various misinformation about your father's song.

We need get the attribution corrected in the DT, too, in addition to correcting the lyrics. (I hope you, on behalf of your father, approve of its being there.)

Like Noreen, I am curious as to how your father's tune came to be associated with "Dreams Of Alwyn."

I am very sorry to hear that your father was not duly acknowledged for his song in the credits for "The Quiet Man." It is truly a beautiful song.

And thanks for the link to your website. Do join us here at Mudcat!

Genie

P.S.,
You are right that it used to be common for studios (and sheet music publishers) not to give due credit to songwriters, co-authors, etc. (The man usually credited with sole authorship was named Herman, with a last name something like Hapfeld -- it's on the tip of my tongue. Cole Porter's publishers for "Don't Fence Me In," and the studio that made the movie for which the song was commissioned, would not allow Porter to formally accredit Robert Fletcher, on whose poem the song was based [cf. forum threads on "Don't Fence Me In"]. And if you see sheet music from the musical "Kismet," you will often find "Stranger In Paradise" attributed solely to, I think, Jerome Kern, with no mention of the Russian composer Borodin, from whose "Polovetzian Dance No. 9" the main melody was lifted.)

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Barry T
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 08:31 PM

The association of Alwyn with this song is a common phenomenon on the web... the evolution of threaded discussion into substantiated fact. We witnessed the same thing happen to another popular song... Pete St. John's Fields of Athenry, whose lyrics for a time were erroneously tagged to a non-existent traditional tune.

By having sequenced a midi of The Isle of Innisfree I am embarrassed to have been partly responsible for this musical fiction, as my midi spread across the web as some kind of authenticated proof of the traditional tune.

I myself have experienced the wonder of such web metamorphosis. My one and only lyrical creation, An Emigrant's Daughter, became 'Irish traditional' within two years of its creation in 1998!

On the plus side of this experience...
...we now have a complete appreciation of the background of the The Isle of Innisfree and of its author
...we have welcomed a new 'Catter in the form of Gerard
...hundreds of us are singing the tune anew
...the record sales for both Gerard and Carmel Quinn will hopefully increase as a result of our thread!

Now, to reprove my metamorphosis theory I will make mention of the 'fact' that White Christmas is based on an old Gaelic air titled Herding My Goats. Set your stopwatch! ;-)

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 08:34 PM

Gerard, perhaps you are also thinking of 'The Dream of Olwen', (From the film "The Way to the Stars") composed by Charles Williams, who also, incidentally, composed the music for 'Dick Barton Special Agent!'

You will no doubt be interested to know that "The Isle Of Innisfree" is indeed known as "The Dream of Alwyn", at least in North America, as the following websites (and many more sites, if you do a Google search) attest:

www.contemplator.com/tunebook/irshmidi.htm

www.worldfolksong.com/songbook/extra/heal.htm

www.racine.ra.it/ungaretti/ireland/music/irshmenu.htm

The question is still, why the connection, as it's obviously a surprise to you, too.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 08:43 PM

Try this one for The Dream of Olwen

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 08:46 PM

Thank you, Barry T, I missed your posting while I was playing around getting my links to work...

How did you get involved with Alwyn, then, and is she related to Olwen? :0)

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Gerard Farrelly - SON OF THE COMPOSER
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 12:38 PM

Hello,

I thought I might mention - if you log on to www.rattlebag.com then click on where it says Fast Access, and then go to June 11, you will find a radio documentry about the "Isle Of Innisfree" in which I was interviewed.
You will also here my father talk about the song, this was taken from a previous programme he did some years ago. This Rattlebag programme was broadcast on the Irish national radio station RTE on June 11 last. I think you would find it interesting and enjoyable.

Regards,
Gerard

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Alice
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 08:29 PM

Thanks for the additional link, Gerard.

Alice

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Alice
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 08:34 PM

Rattlebag, Tuesday June 11 http://www.rte.ie/arts/2002/0611/rattlebag.html

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Alice
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 08:55 PM

I just finished listening to that audio clip at Rattlebag... wonderful, touching, ... the end where you describe finding the old suitcase full of his music in the closet really got to me, as well as the subject of exile. Thanks again for giving that link to the audio file. Your wife has a lovely singing voice and it was good to hear the song as you have recorded it at the end.

Alice Flynn

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,amergin using ip
Date: 05 Oct 02 - 09:09 PM

and don't forget to sign up....

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 12:00 PM

Just a minor point, but in the W B Yeats poem (many posts above) it was lake water, not the water, he heard lapping with low sounds.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Guest Carol Farrelly DAUGHTER OF COMPOSER
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 05:21 PM

Hello to all who have been corresponding on this intriguing website! So glad that my brother Ger discovered it and has clarified the many misconceptions regarding our fathers song. I thought you might be interested to hear what our father had to say himself.

(Extract from interview with DICK FARRELLY on RTE(Radio Telefis Eireann)-Irelands National broadcasting Station)

'I found myself writing this song, "Isle Of Innisfree". The 'Isle Of Innisfree' that I had in my mind was Ireland, another name for Ireland, and that's something people often get mixed up. I liked the sound of the 'The Isle Of Innisfree'. I thought it would make a good song title. It had a poetic 'ring' to it, and immediately thoughts of Ireland and emmigration came to my mind.

The whole song, words and music were composed on that bus. I know that by the time I got to Dublin I had my song-the complete words and music. For me, the "Isle Of Innisfree" is simply Ireland and it was Ireland that I had in mind when I wrote this song about an exiles longing for home.'

Thankyou,
Kind regards to you all,

Carol Farrelly ([e-mail])   

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Alice
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 06:16 PM

Please join the Mudcat membership and stay around, Carol and Ger. Membership is free.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Guest Majella Farrelly Daughter of Composer
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 06:26 PM

I was absolutely thrilled to bits to learn of this wonderful and very fascinating website. It was from my sister Carol who informed me of same. I feel very honoured and a very big thankyou to all concerned.

Kind regards,
Majella Farrelly {[e-mail]}

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 10:14 PM

Well, we certainly wouldn't mind having more than one Farrelly around Ye Olde Mudcat CafŽ, Majella. You and Carol and Gerard can all join for the price of one membership!

Genie

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Alice
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 10:34 PM

And that price is FREE - what could be better than that?

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 10:50 PM

You're going about this all wrong, fellow Mudcatters.

Focus more on what a rare privilege and honour it is to be invited into this august community. Hint at a lengthy review of each application for membership. Imply that only those with the most exceptional credentials, such as being the progeny of respected songwriters, have any chance of being allowed across the threshold. Etc, etc.

I am sure that such subtlety will be rewarded.

Subject: RE: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 06:04 AM

Yeah, that's right -- what Fionn said. That's the ticket!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Gerard Farrelly
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 01:19 PM

Genie

Many thanks for your response Oct.3rd and I certainly would approve of your suggestion.

Both yourself and Noreen are curious as to how "The Isle Of Innisfree" is somehow connected in some quarters with the "Dream Of Alwyn", - I'm afraid I really don't know. I think it started with some midi-files that were made available online by a person named Barry Taylor. He had the wrong title with the wrong melody and he has created an awful mess and a lot of confusion.

All the best.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 01:53 PM

All this was explained earlier in the discussion by Barry himself, but nobody seems to have paid any attention.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Gerard Farrelly
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 10:55 AM

I did some research on "The Dream Of Olwyn Olwen" - the composition that some people are mixing up with "The Isle Of Innisfree".

Firstly the spelling is "Olwyn Olwen". The composer was Charles Williams and it was a piece for piano and orchestra and was the theme music of the film "The Way To The Stars".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 01:15 PM

Gerard, in your post dated Oct. 2, you seem to be referring to my post of Oct. Am I in a time warp? Or was that just a typo?

¤;-D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 01:37 PM

Gerard, you say: I did some research on "The Dream Of Olwyn". If you had bothered to read my post of 03 Oct 02 - 08:34 PM, you would know that there are two different names,

1) Dreams Of Alwyn (the name that some give to the tune to your father's song)

and

2) The Dream of Olwen by Charles Williams. I give the information you have just researched, and far more, including links to midis of each tune, above.

(Malcolm, unlike some, I did pay attention to what was written, in this case by Barry Taylor. I was interested to know how such a thing came about, as Barry merely described what had happened. Can't say I have any further interest in this subject now.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Gerard Farrelly
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 02:53 PM

Noreen, Indeed you did supply such information back then and I somehow had completely forgotten this, quite silly of me, please accept my apologies.

As regards "The Isle Of Innisfree" itself, the history of the song and all misconceptions have been fully addressed in my postings of 02 and 03 Oct 02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 05:52 PM

My last post was supposed to say:

Gerard, in your post dated Oct. 2, you seem to be referring to my post of Oct.3. Am I in a time warp? Or was that just a typo?

¤;-D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Cathy
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 06:41 PM

Surely the issue as to how "The Isle Of Innisfree" became known as "The Dream Of Alwyn"/"Olwen" is totally irrelevant. There have been misconceptions about many great songs over the years and there will be many more.
         
What is relevant however, is the wonderful and detailed information that has been so kindly supplied to your discussion group by the son of the composer himself. What more does one need.

Cathy   

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 26 Oct 02 - 09:40 PM

Gerard--Great to see you at Mudcat! Not to mention that your sisters have visited as well. Welcome!

I never did get to do the updates to the Feature Song page for Isle Of Innisfree that Mick Lowe and I had on our website prior to us closing the site due to loads of more pressing personal endeavours. But I imagine Mudcat has much more traffic and so posting your site info along with the information about your Dad and the song is better off here!

Thanks again for the insiteful information you shared with me through email and post!

As ever,

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,GERARD FARRELLY
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 09:02 AM

Hello Mary,

Great to hear from you too and thanks for your message above. I have not been to mudcat for a very long time and only now just got your posting, very sorry about that.

Anyway, I hope your're keeping well and you might like to know that the CD has been very successful here in Ireland and lots of things have happened as a result which is great.

Take care
Gerard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Martha
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 02:55 PM

Came accross this thread for the first time. As a lover of Irish songs and YES, "The Isle Of Innisfree" in particular, truly one of the most beautiful melodies ever to come out of the country, I was delighted to read the postings by Dick Farrelly's son, Gerard Farrelly.

Great stuff Gerard, you've set the record straight, I am looking forward to getting your and Sinead's CD "Legacy Of A Quiet Man" with the correct melody and lyrics. Very interested also in hearing the other songs by your father.

Continued success to you both in the future.

Martha O'Sullivan from Co.Cork.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From:
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 08:12 AM

Does anybody have the sheet music for "Isle of Innisfree" suitable for the Organ or Keyboard
much appreciated if I could get it, or be directed to a site that might have it.   

   Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 04:35 AM

In Scottish gaelic, innis means an island. If if is the same in Irish, then isn't the title a bit tautological?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:53 AM

Its a bit like the "River Avon"!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:06 AM

In case, you don't realise, Avon or Abhann = river
There are many instances of this sort of bilingual repetition
such as Inch Island and Barnesmore Gap (Bearnas=gap)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:08 AM

Philippa

I was trying to remember some triple ones - English/Gaelic/Norse from Scotland?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 01:35 PM

There's a river in Dumfries and Galloway called the Old River. An old map shows this as the Auld river and as allt is gaelic for a mountain stream, it is conceivable the the name has gone from allt to auld to old!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: weerover
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 02:13 PM

Other tautologies:

Mount Fujiyama
Koy carp

wr

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 09:36 AM

Unfortunately the last six postings have nothing to do with 'The Isle Of Innisfree' whatsoever.

Steve, you are looking for the sheet music for the song - Log on to ebay, type in the song title in the search box and also click the 'title and disciptions box'.

At this moment you will find a copy of the sheet music with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara on the cover for auction. In order to bid for the item you must first register with ebay.

I myself have in the past got the sheet music for 'Innisfree' through ebay. This is the original piano arrangment by the composer Dick (Richard) Farrelly.

Best of luck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 12:03 PM

Steve,

You can get a book entitled 'Song Of Ireland' online from www.musicroom.com

It contains the original sheet music arrangement of 'The Isle Of Innisfree' with full lyric.

There is also available a easier sheet music arrangement in a book entitled, The Waltons Irish Songbook Volume 4, available from www.simplyirish.com

Slan, Pat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Info. Please:
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 03:02 PM

I am looking for a CD. The Dream of Olwyn Olwen, Ken Higgins
at the piano, or the CD "Play it again Ken" I would
appreciate your help. Thanks, Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: NoMattch
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 11:43 AM

My grandfather was from Sligo and used to sing the 'Isle of Innisfree' all the time. I remember it with a lot more verses, though. I finally went over to Ireland and took a ferry across Lough Gill to see it. I was surprised how small it was. When the captain said, "To our left is the Isle of Innisfree.." I said, "That's it? The song is longer than the island!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 03:38 PM

Hi NoMattch,

The song has nothing whatsoever to do with the island Isle of Innisfree in Co. Sligo about which W.B.Yeats wrote.

You obviously have not read the first three postings by Gerard Farrelly, son of the composer of the song, "The Isle Of Innisfree".

His father was writing about Ireland, not a tiny island in Sligo. He was using the word "Innisfree" as a metaphor, another name for Ireland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 01:55 PM

Further to the previous posting:

Go to a lovely piece and photos on www.quietmanmovieclub.com

Click link "Isle of Innisfree" on the home page.

Pat Downey

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:47 AM

Thanks for that info Pat, its fantastic. I wish we had such a background to many more great songs and their writers. Dick/Richard Farrelly, sounds like he was a lovely man. A wonderful thing to have a son speak of a father in such a way publicly.

ONE WOULD NEVER PUT A POLICEMAN AND A SONGWRITER/POET IN THE ONE PERSON.

Paul

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Verna
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 04:44 PM

Noticed the note from Marth O'Sullivan in Co Cork. Delighted to find another catter in co Cork! How about E-mailing me?   I live in Co Cork (Bantry area) and I sing Innisfree (I also do Dream of Olwen too and there is No resemblence)

Regards Verna [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Guest Inga
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 04:41 PM

Never heard of this song, I'm trying to find it for a friend. Does Sharron Singers sing thats song -Isle of Innisfree- also?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Inga
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 05:01 PM

Hi Guys,

I found the whole song on here, scroll all the way down. A guy sings it tho'

http://home.swipnet.se/~w-134536/mel441.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Com Seangan
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 05:20 PM

Right. The Inisfree that Yeats wrote about had no connection with the more recent song. But don't anyone denegrate the beauty of Yeat's verse - which he wrote while he was in Liondon. Inisfree is a Gaelic for Island of Heather (Inis Fraoich).

Keep it swinging lads (and lassies) !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 09:21 AM

Hello Inga,

You will find a wonderful version and the correct one too, (there are so many versions with wrong words on melody), log on to the website of Singer-Sinead Stone and Musican-Gerard Farrelly. The website is www.stoneandfarrelly.com

Gerard is the son of the composer Dick Farrelly. You can order their album which is called "legacy Of A Quiet Man".

It was through some postings on Mudcat that I heard of them.

All the best.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 01:15 PM

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Alley
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 04:35 PM

I'm so glad there are so many people interested in the song "The Isle of Innisfree". I have listened to this song by Danniel O'Donnell as well as Sinead Stone on the CD "Legacy of a Quiet Man." In each case they pronounce Innisfree as (Inn-ish-free). Apparently this is correct, however, I'm not sure where they get the (ish). The title has nothing to do the "The Lake Isle Of Innisfree", but rather the song is about Ireland. Dick Farrelly used the name Innisfree to refer to Ireland.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 07:57 PM

I hope that this not sound pedantic. It is not meant to be. But "Inis" in Irish is correctly pronounced Inish. LIke Inisheer (of the Aran Islannds) Inisfree really means Inis Fraoich (in Connaught Irish pronounced Inish Free) meaning the Island of heather - Inis Fraoich.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Alley
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 01:24 PM

Thanks so much for letting me know about the correct pronunciation of "Innisfree." I did not consider it pedantic at all. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 03:34 PM

Hi All,

Sure hope you can help with this!

I am seeking a version of "Isle of Innisfree" by a female vocalist for a production of a play set in Ireland entitled "The Anthem Sprinters."

In the play it is supposed to be Deanna Durbin who sings it as a part of a film's soundtrack (she actually never did, so there is no recording) so the version needs to use an "old-fashioned" sounding vocalist, yet still embody that filmaic sound of the 1930's. Tough task to find such a recording!

Can you help me? If you can provide guidance, please reply to me personally: [e-mail]


Thanks!

Mary McDonald-Lewis
Portland OR
USA

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: Peace
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 11:50 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,GUEST, Stan
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 06:31 PM

For all of the fans of this beautiful song, you will appreciate a haunting rendition arranged by David Downes and performed by soloist/harpist, Orla Fallon, on the CD and DVD, "Celtic Woman". This 2004 concert was recorded live in Dublin, and features three other soloists, a violinist, chorus and orchestra on some 20 songs. This will become your favorite. The web site is as follows:

http://www.celticwoman.com/site.html

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 20 Aug 05 - 07:59 AM

Okay, am I insane for thinking that the first strain of "Innisfree" (1949) is almost identical to the first strain of the theme music of the movie "The Longest Day" (1961) ?

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,jk
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 10:33 PM

What is the movie called that The poem is in?

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 08:03 AM

To Trish ([e-mail])

Hello, i read about your post about you looking for a copy of the score of the dream of olwen. I'm also desperately looking for one for my dad. Can you help me? Do you have a scanned copy of the score, because i dont have the means to buy online. thanks so much



Kate

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,David Cowan-Hannes
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 10:52 PM

Tonight my mother played a snippet of Sinead Stone singing "The Isle Innisfree" on the telephone for me. She said she wanted me to learn the song for her. But every version I've heard pales in comparison to Mrs. Stone's. I was hoping to find a video of her performing on youtube.com. No luck. :( It is a beautiful song when done well.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Sheet Music
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:26 PM

if you are still looking for sheet music for Isle of Innisfree, go to http://netscape.musicnotes.com/get/music. I downloaded several songs and a very reasonable price for each song. Hope this helps.

Ginger

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: Genie
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 04:44 PM

Among the many artists who have performed Farrelly's wonderful song are Celtic Woman (with Orla singing it and accompanying herself on harp).

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,scoutniagara
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 04:07 PM

You may enjoy this rendition of "Isle of Innisfree."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xn7rjlOxfc
by Orla, formerly of Celtic Woman

by Richard Farrelly,
Arranged by Randa Kirshbaum
Published under license from Musicnotes, Inc.,
Copyright 1950, Peter Maurice Music Co. Ltd.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Learaí na Láibe
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 05:38 AM

Go h-álainn - beautiful.

Thanks for that link, Scout.

I always thought the melody of "Inisfree" was similar to another song "Lovely Cottage by the Lee". A quick google turned up the lyrics right here on Mudcat - and lo and behold who was the composer? the very same Richard Farrely.

Listen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Xr46WZ6ek

a pity Joe Lynch's rendition is not available on youtube.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Susan McCarthy
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 04:44 PM

Found the following on Wikipedia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Innisfree

May you enjoy the read.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Gerard - Dick Farrelly's son
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 05:06 PM

HI NOREEN - As far as I am aware "Isle of Innisfree" and the "Dream of Alwyn" (two totally different and original works in their own right ) got mixed up because some fool put up an awful midi file matching the the melody with the wrong title and it went all over the internet causing a lot of confusion.

HI TIM - the best way to answer your question is to read this from Wikipedia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Innisfree

Best regards,
Gerard farrelly

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 09:45 PM

Are the Digital Tradition lyrics correct?

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: cnd
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 10:46 PM

In the first stanza, "Especially when it happens he's an exile" should be "Especially when it happens he's in exile" I believe

Second stanza, wonder should be wonders

In the version I listened to (on Spotify), in the middle of the second to last stanza (after "laugh as they flow") it skips to "but dreams they don't last" instead of the humble shack lyrics, skipping the "And then into a humble shack I wonder" 4 line grouping entirely.

Not really a correction, but the odd and erratic-seeming switches from 4-8 line stanzas is a bit odd to me.

Otherwise, sounds good.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,patriot
Date: 02 May 20 - 02:04 PM

Go to the village of Dromahair in Co Leitrim & take the Sligo road on the south side of Lough Gill. After a mile or two, there's a lane leading down to a place you can look over to the island which is the object of Yeats' poem-the island is heavily wooded, so not much heather now, if any! You can find the hill where the 'Fiddler of Dooney' played, another Yeats poem- it's on the same road.
It has nothing to do with Richard Farrelly's song, although I'm glad to know it IS an Irish song & not composed in the US for Bing Crosby, as I always thought- thanks for all this!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Micheal O Duinn
Date: 27 Jun 20 - 11:42 PM

The "Isle of Innis Free" Being a Gaelic name is pronounced Inish free in Bearla (English). Gaelic Irish speakers would never pronounce the word "Iniss'

It is interesting to watch the "missed words" and Added words" contra-temps go on in the words recorded for this song here. What is very interesting is the wee bit of history that was particularly relevant to the time and place the song was originally created in.

The author was a Garda Siochana - Gaelic for guardian of the peace - in Dublin and was originally from Mayo, so he was a Southerner and wrote the lyrics from his perspective.   

When the song gained in pop-ularity it began to be sung by Irish people from both parte of the British divided island and those of a different religious origin found that they just could not sing about a family gathering to pray to a woman since only those of a papist bent would do that.

The "rosary" was therefore dropped and replaced by the words "but dreams don't last, though dreams are not forgotten, And soon I'm back to stern reality." Check our Ruby Murrays version for the changes I speak of.

Fortunately the Battle of the Boyne seems to have ended now but we can't really be sure since Brexit is wakening old memories and Irish of both strands of DNA have terrible good memories.