THE OULD PLAID SHAWL - Songs of Francis Fahy [1854-1935]. Various artists, 2001.
Issued by the Francis Arthur Fahy Society, Kinvara, Galway.

A lovely CD. The singers, musicians and producers, John Faulkener and Garry O'Briain,
have done the old songs justice, really brought them to life again: very folksy, updating the songs for modern times.   The album can be obtained direct from the Fahy Society,

Titles included, with a few notes, and a few examples of Francis Fahy's felicitous way with words, are:

"The Queen of Connemara" - Seosamh Ó Flaithearta.
Music: A.A.Needham.

I Gaily Gave My Heart Away - Dolores Keane.
Music: John Faulkner.

"The Thief of the World" - Séamus O'Donnell.
I'll have her up in court, and I'll charge her with a felony,
And if she pleads "Not Guilty", 'twill be only waste of breath,
For I'll set my face against her, and condemn her for her villainy,
To be locked up in my arms, till the day of her death.
Oh! The thief of all the world! There's no use in being kind to her,
Around my neck, she'll have to hang, until her dying day,
As a warning to all schemers, that the same way are inclined as her,
To go about their business, and not lead poor boys astray.
Music: John Francis Larchet.

"Lonesome" - Paul Milligan.
Music by A.A. Needham.

"My Heart's Treasure" - Bríd Dooley.
I am sitting and sighing alone,
Since the moon rose in Heaven last night,
Minding a fire not my own,
And striving to keep it alight,
Love's pain in the core of my breast,
The cock in the bawn crowing free,
The friends and the neighbours at rest,
And all the world sleeping but me.
Music: A.A.Needham.

"The Ould Plaid Shawl" – Seosamh Ó Flaithearta.
Music by Walter Battison Haynes.

"The Bog Road, Lisdoonvarna" - Séamus O'Donnell,
Music: traditional.

"The Tide Full In" - Eleanor Shanley.
Oh! The happy summers of the olden days,
And the brown boats stealing through the golden haze,
And the cuckoo calling, from the woods within,
And my love beside me, and the tide full in.
Music: Paul Mulligan.

"Galway Bay" (old version) - Mike Naughton.
'Tis far away, I am today, from scenes I roamed a boy,
And long ago, the hour I know, I first saw Illinois,
But time nor tide, nor waters wide, can wean my heart away,
For, ever true, it flies to you, my own dear Galway Bay.
(Tune – "Skibbereen").

"An Old Irish Hill in the Morning" - Michael Brogan.
I'm weary and sick of the sights of the town,
Though haughty its mansions and high its renown,
Oh! If some good fairy, would but set me down,
On an old Irish hill in the morning.
Music: traditional.

"Oh! Summer is Coming" - Siobhán Forde.
Music: Garry O'Briain.

"Haste to the Wedding" - Seán Tyrrell.
Who's not delighted to see them together?
United, and plighted, for life and for death,
The dacentest boy ever walked the brown heather,
The darlingest colleen that ever drew breath.

Oh! Haste to the wedding! Oh Haste to the wedding!
Oh! Haste to the wedding, we mustn't be late,
Oh! Hasten, Oh Hasten, for all the kind faces,
There's a place at the wedding of Conor and Kate.
Music: Seán Tyrrell.

"Little Mary Cassidy" - Caoilte Breatnach.
I'd rather live in poverty with little Mary Cassidy,
Than Emperor, without her be, o'er Germany or Spain.
Music: A. Somervelle.

"Husheen", - John Faulkner and Bríd Dooley.
Husheen, husho,
Hush and lul-a-lo,
Husheen, husho,
Hush, go ciúin go ló. ("Peace until daytime")
Music: A.A.Needham.

"Galway Bay", (new version) - Tony Small and Eibhlís Ní Chinnéide.
Music: Tony Small, popularised by Dolores Keane.

To all with a broad interest in Irish music, or just in good music generally, I thoroughly recommend this album. http://www.kinvara.com/francisfahy/