Ellen:

I think the original publication source for this song was THE NATION newspaper - an Irish Nationalist newspaper which began publication in the 1840's. Many of the nationalistic poems printed there were compiled in a book entitled THE SPIRIT OF THE NATION (1845) and some were put to original music at that time. That was apparently the case with a Nation Once Again. I am not a great reader of music, but it seems clear that the melody written in The Spirit of the Nation for A Nation Once Again is not the same melody that the Clancy's and others have made popular. If you send me your snail mail, off forum, I can send you a photocopy of the music. Any Mudcatters who want a copy, let me know. Maybe someone of you more talented than I can post a MIDI file.

Keep the music alive - Mark D.