Need Irish Emigration song for schools

Subject: Favorite Irish Emigration song for school
From: wilco
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 06:22 PM

I need one or two old Irish emigration songs for primary school
programs. Kids will be six to twelve years old. Any suggetions?

Thanks!!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 06:34 PM

The CD (an old one) "Farewell to Eirinn" by Dolores Keane and John Faulkner is what yer after.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 07:15 PM

You can also contact John Moulden here:

John Moulden's Ulstersongs website

He has published a book with an accompanying tape called "Thousands are Sailing: a brief song history of Irish emigration" if you are interested in doing more research.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 07:38 PM

Put irish emigration in the Lyrics and Knowledge search box and a lot of songs and notes will show up.

---

(click here to search).

Subject: RE: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 06:46 AM

The two songs that I really love may be somewhat beyond the younger ones, but would certainly be appropriate for children 10 and up. The first is The Wearing of the Green. You will have to explain that the line about "hanging men and women" is hyperbole, but certainly the British did execute people for Irish nationalist activities, if not for the "wearing of the green" in the literal sense. In particular I love these two lines:


I've heard the whispers of a land that lies across the sea,
Where rich and poor stand equal in the light of Liberty..."

Good ideals to live by, even if often honored in the breech.

The other song is from the time of the American Civil War and is a wee bit more obsucre, Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade. My favorite lines are the first:

Say Pat to his mother, "It seems strage to see,
Brothers fighting in such a queer manner,
But I'll fight 'til I die, if I never get killed,
For America's bright starry banner."

Pat, of course, does get killed.

Sure the day after battle, the dead lay in heaps,
And Pat Murphy lay bleeding and gory,
A hole through his head by some enemy's lead,
Had ended his passion for glory.

Depressing, but that's the way things often did happen. The older kids can handle it.

Subject: RE: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: GUEST,Lidy
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 07:03 AM

I like these two:
The Irish Exile
Last Glimpse of Erin
From the Contemplator, cos I love the way his site is arranged!!
Lidy

Subject: RE: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: GUEST,Heely
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 09:02 AM

A couple songs that I have had success with in schools are " Danny Boy" (though it is more modern, but a great story of emigration) and "Botany Bay" - the Sea Chantey. "Botany Bay" teaches of the crew of the emigration ships and the plight of the Scotch-Irish convict ships to Australia. Remember, "Danny Boy" was written by a father to his son who was emigrating to America.

Subject: RE: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 10:13 AM

"Danny Boy" was written by a father to his son who was emigrating to America.>/I>

The song was actually written by an Englishman, Fred Weatherly, who also wrote "Roses of Picardy". I believe he never set foot in Ireland.

Subject: RE: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 10:13 AM

"Danny Boy" was written by a father to his son who was emigrating to America.

The song was actually written by an Englishman, Fred Weatherly, who also wrote "Roses of Picardy". I believe he never set foot in Ireland.

Subject: RE: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 04:52 PM

for children of this age I would suggest Dear Old Donegal...which we as Irish Americans absolutely loved to sing...an immigrant comes home..and maybe something like I'm leaving Tipperary...you don't want to depress them too much I presume...

mg

Subject: RE: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 05:14 PM

"The Praties they Grow Small" has the merits of being simple as well as meaningful.

"The Old Bog Road" is a bit of a downer maybe, but it touches the spot. As does "Spancil Hill", especially if you look up The Thread, and tell the story. There are 12 year olds who could appreciate that.

Subject: RE: Need Irish Emigration song for schools
From: Felipa
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 05:28 PM

how about Kilkelly?