The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #30464   Message #391969
Posted By: Big Tim
07-Feb-01 - 05:48 AM
Thread Name: Tune Req: The Woods Of Drumbo
Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Woods Of Drumbo
I have a recording of the song but not the gear to submit the tune. More info however- The posted version has three mistakes, historical errors, repeated from one of Colm O'Lochlainn's ballad books. 1. The actual title is "The Drumboe Martyrs" written by Michael McGinley at least 45 years ago. 2. One of the victims was Charles Daly (not "Dawly") 3. Another was Tim O Sullivan (not O Donnell"). All in their 20s.

The song is set at Drumboe (with an "E") at Stranorlar, Co Donegal not at Drumboe near Belfast. It means"ridge of the hut" (druim both) The four men were executed by firing squad at 8.00am 14th March 1923 by a Free State Court during the Irish Civil war

The tune is a beautiful traditional air and is printed in "More Irish Street Ballads" by Colm O'Lochlainn (1965) now sdaly out of print but probably available thru libraries.