folk duo MacMurrough - seek more information

Subject: MacMurrough
From: zalby
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 01:32 PM

hello all. I am a new member. I have a cassette i bought after seeing this fine folk duo in Carlow in 1982, i am looking for more information about the duo but cant find anything on the web. the cassette is entitled.." Merry & Fine"

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: MARINER
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:35 PM

As far as I know McMurrough are no longer gigging . Paul Kavanagh ,the male vocalist is now a barrister practicing on the south eastern circuit. Originally a three piece , later a duo with Paul and his wife? Mary, they had a couple of albums on the Polydor "Folk Mill " label , both very collectable and very expensive , around £400 if my memory serves me well. They were a nice" polished" group with good harmonies, I always thought they were somewhat like the Emmett Spiceland . Too polished for some mind you .

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: Declan
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:49 PM

The only information I can add to this is that at some stage they were known as Shades of McMorrough - this was either early in their career, or a later name. Have a vague recollection of TV/radio play in the Seventies.

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:53 PM

I have an LP from them titled Merry and Fine, probably the same tracks. The LP has very little information about them on the cover.
Click here for an old thread about a song (Wexford fishing song) from that LP.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: GUEST,zalbyMerry & Fine
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 08:09 AM

This album will be the one I have. Some fine songs including Croppy Boy, Boolavogue , The Drummer Boy, Old Mans Tale and of course the wonderfully poetic Wexford Fishing Song amongst others.
This was purchased during their performance at the "Castle Bar" in Carlow Town whilst I was on holiday there in the early 1980`s. sadly I dont have the inlay card but the cassette (from the Polydor label) is a joy to listen to.

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: MARINER
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 09:28 AM

Declan , They were originally known as "Shades of McMurrough" and changed to "McMurrough " later in their career. I think the name had something to do with the historic Dermot McMurrough who came from their area, Ferns in County Wexford .

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: Declan
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 06:25 AM

They probably named themselves after the MacMorrough family in general.

Dermot was not a popular figure in Irish History as he is reputed to be the person who invited the British (or more specifically some Norman lords from Wales) into Ireland.

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: MARINER
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 06:43 AM

Yeah you could be right , perhaps it was Art McMurrough Kavanagh I was thinking of .

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: MARINER
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 06:44 AM

After all he was 'armless . (Sorry I couldn't resist that.)

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: MARINER
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 08:55 AM

By the way ,inviting Normans to invade Ireland would not now necessarily be considered a bad thing in these parts .After all there's more than a smattering of Norman blood in us Wexfordians . We are Normans almost to a man .Just check out the prominent names in this area.

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: Gulliver
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 02:06 PM

I have a cassette copied from an album, which may have been called simply "MacMurrough", and probably their first. I don't think I have the album any longer (which probably belonged to my sister).

I had the idea from reading either the liner notes or a review that the original group name "Shades of McMurrough" came from the fact that the songs they played at the beginning were all English in origin, ie, they were "importing" English songs in the same way Dermot McMurrough imported the Anglo-Normans.

The songs on this album included Bailiff's Daughter of Islington, Creeping Jane, Plains of Waterloo, Jenny on the Moor, etc. The only Irish song was Tá na Báid.

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: GUEST,Tom Foxe
Date: 27 May 07 - 11:58 AM

Shades of McMurrough go back to about 1970, I remember a fine 3-piece, with Paul Kavanagh playing the only lute I have seen in a folk band, it really stood out & made them look special. I met them at the Letterkenny Folk Festival, where I went to support friends The Somertons, a Dublin 3-piece. I think the Shades had won Letterkenny the previous year and were the host band, I recall them singing CSNY stuff, lovely close harmonies.

Subject: RE: MacMurrough
From: GUEST,folkal_point
Date: 27 May 07 - 06:04 PM

Hi, I have several copies of the 3 Mac Murrough's LP's.All originals, and in EX conditions...If interested in more details, e-mail me...

Subject: RE: folk duo MacMurrough - seek more information
From: GUEST,kai
Date: 04 Sep 15 - 04:28 PM

Hi,

i´m new here and looking for original vinyls of MacMurrough.
If someone can help please let me know.

Kai

Subject: RE: folk duo MacMurrough - seek more information
From: GUEST,Michael Kelleher
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 12:36 AM

Shades of Mc Murrough were a music group consisting of Paul Kavanagh from Gorey, County Wexford and two O'Neill sisters from Ferns or Camolin one of whom is Paul's wife. They had a unique style of singing and produced a brilliant collection of music based on songs from County Wexford. I think the O' Neill sisters were Primary teachers. Their collection of Wexford Songs are a very valuable archive a copy of which should be in every school in County Wexford. By the way I am from Gorey originally.

Subject: RE: folk duo MacMurrough - seek more information
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 02:00 AM

I am not familiar with this duo but after reading the posts here I am curious now about their music. Is there anywhere that I can hear any of their songs or even a portion/clip of any of this duo's music?
Is there anywhere on the internet where you can hear a song or two of MacMurrough?

Subject: RE: folk duo MacMurrough - seek more information
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Feb 16 - 11:19 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_StPA3LU1bI

One may hear the 1974 album there.

Subject: RE: folk duo MacMurrough - seek more information
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 07:12 AM

I remember seeing them at a Cambridge Folk Festival, possibly 1970, a trio as I recall, not a duo. There are 3 recordings by them in CD format currently for sale on eBay [ not by me ].

Subject: RE: folk duo MacMurrough - seek more information
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 11:06 AM

Thanks for that, GUEST,#.

I had this LP many years ago but have no longer, so it's great to hear it again. I used to play it a lot and have been unable to find anything about it in recent years.

I'll listen to it now- hope it's actually as good as I remember it being!

Subject: RE: folk duo MacMurrough - seek more information
From: GUEST,#
Date: 14 Feb 16 - 11:27 AM

I hope it's as you recall, Noreen :-)