The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #164332 Message #3931324
Posted By: Jim Carroll
17-Jun-18 - 02:08 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Child Ballads in Ireland
Subject: RE: Origins: Child Ballads in Ireland
Hope my diversion hasn't put anybody off - if it has, I apologise I'm all but finished the preliminary stages of this project; I'm waiting for a few bits of information to tie up the missing songs from Tom's list There are a few additions I'm considering
There are four songs in Irish which are versions of Child ballads or are reputed to be related to have originated from them Joe Heaney and JUnior Crehan (a Clare fiddle player we recorde) both sang versions of Lord Randal (no question they are the same as the ballad) Joe sang a song similar to Our Goodman An Mahaighdean Mhara (The Mermaid) is reputed to be a version of The Two Sisters Like many Irish language songs, it is part of a longer story - in this case, a jealous waiting maid is combing her mistresses hair on the seashore, she ties her mistress's hair to the rocks and she is drowned The maid marries the master of the house and brings up his child I've never been convinced that this is related to the ballad - others are I can't remember the fourth, but I think it may be 'Maid Freed from the Gallows'
I intend to include children's versions of ballads - Lord Randal (Henry My Son), The Cruel Mother (Weela-Weela-Walya); I need to check if there are others
I am trying to decide whether I should include ballads which haven't been recorded, but just written down There is a version of THe Two Sisters written down from an Irishman in Liverpool by Frank Kidson
Many thanks for your assistance and encouragement - any other thoughts would be welcome Jim