Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Micheal O Duinn
Date: 27 Jun 20 - 11:42 PM

The "Isle of Innis Free" Being a Gaelic name is pronounced Inish free in Bearla (English). Gaelic Irish speakers would never pronounce the word "Iniss'

It is interesting to watch the "missed words" and Added words" contra-temps go on in the words recorded for this song here. What is very interesting is the wee bit of history that was particularly relevant to the time and place the song was originally created in.

The author was a Garda Siochana - Gaelic for guardian of the peace - in Dublin and was originally from Mayo, so he was a Southerner and wrote the lyrics from his perspective.   

When the song gained in pop-ularity it began to be sung by Irish people from both parte of the British divided island and those of a different religious origin found that they just could not sing about a family gathering to pray to a woman since only those of a papist bent would do that.

The "rosary" was therefore dropped and replaced by the words "but dreams don't last, though dreams are not forgotten, And soon I'm back to stern reality." Check our Ruby Murrays version for the changes I speak of.

Fortunately the Battle of the Boyne seems to have ended now but we can't really be sure since Brexit is wakening old memories and Irish of both strands of DNA have terrible good memories.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,patriot
Date: 02 May 20 - 02:04 PM

Go to the village of Dromahair in Co Leitrim & take the Sligo road on the south side of Lough Gill. After a mile or two, there's a lane leading down to a place you can look over to the island which is the object of Yeats' poem-the island is heavily wooded, so not much heather now, if any! You can find the hill where the 'Fiddler of Dooney' played, another Yeats poem- it's on the same road.
It has nothing to do with Richard Farrelly's song, although I'm glad to know it IS an Irish song & not composed in the US for Bing Crosby, as I always thought- thanks for all this!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: cnd
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 10:46 PM

In the first stanza, "Especially when it happens he's an exile" should be "Especially when it happens he's in exile" I believe

Second stanza, wonder should be wonders

In the version I listened to (on Spotify), in the middle of the second to last stanza (after "laugh as they flow") it skips to "but dreams they don't last" instead of the humble shack lyrics, skipping the "And then into a humble shack I wonder" 4 line grouping entirely.

Not really a correction, but the odd and erratic-seeming switches from 4-8 line stanzas is a bit odd to me.

Otherwise, sounds good.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Apr 20 - 09:45 PM

Are the Digital Tradition lyrics correct?

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Gerard - Dick Farrelly's son
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 05:06 PM

HI NOREEN - As far as I am aware "Isle of Innisfree" and the "Dream of Alwyn" (two totally different and original works in their own right ) got mixed up because some fool put up an awful midi file matching the the melody with the wrong title and it went all over the internet causing a lot of confusion.

HI TIM - the best way to answer your question is to read this from Wikipedia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Innisfree

Best regards,
Gerard farrelly

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Susan McCarthy
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 04:44 PM

Found the following on Wikipedia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Innisfree

May you enjoy the read.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Learaí na Láibe
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 05:38 AM

Go h-álainn - beautiful.

Thanks for that link, Scout.

I always thought the melody of "Inisfree" was similar to another song "Lovely Cottage by the Lee". A quick google turned up the lyrics right here on Mudcat - and lo and behold who was the composer? the very same Richard Farrely.

Listen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Xr46WZ6ek

a pity Joe Lynch's rendition is not available on youtube.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,scoutniagara
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 04:07 PM

You may enjoy this rendition of "Isle of Innisfree."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xn7rjlOxfc
by Orla, formerly of Celtic Woman

by Richard Farrelly,
Arranged by Randa Kirshbaum
Published under license from Musicnotes, Inc.,
Copyright 1950, Peter Maurice Music Co. Ltd.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: Genie
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 04:44 PM

Among the many artists who have performed Farrelly's wonderful song are Celtic Woman (with Orla singing it and accompanying herself on harp).

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Sheet Music
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:26 PM

if you are still looking for sheet music for Isle of Innisfree, go to http://netscape.musicnotes.com/get/music. I downloaded several songs and a very reasonable price for each song. Hope this helps.

Ginger

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,David Cowan-Hannes
Date: 26 Jan 08 - 10:52 PM

Tonight my mother played a snippet of Sinead Stone singing "The Isle Innisfree" on the telephone for me. She said she wanted me to learn the song for her. But every version I've heard pales in comparison to Mrs. Stone's. I was hoping to find a video of her performing on youtube.com. No luck. :( It is a beautiful song when done well.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 08:03 AM

To Trish ([e-mail])

Hello, i read about your post about you looking for a copy of the score of the dream of olwen. I'm also desperately looking for one for my dad. Can you help me? Do you have a scanned copy of the score, because i dont have the means to buy online. thanks so much



Kate

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,jk
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 10:33 PM

What is the movie called that The poem is in?

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 20 Aug 05 - 07:59 AM

Okay, am I insane for thinking that the first strain of "Innisfree" (1949) is almost identical to the first strain of the theme music of the movie "The Longest Day" (1961) ?

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,GUEST, Stan
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 06:31 PM

For all of the fans of this beautiful song, you will appreciate a haunting rendition arranged by David Downes and performed by soloist/harpist, Orla Fallon, on the CD and DVD, "Celtic Woman". This 2004 concert was recorded live in Dublin, and features three other soloists, a violinist, chorus and orchestra on some 20 songs. This will become your favorite. The web site is as follows:

http://www.celticwoman.com/site.html

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: Peace
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 11:50 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 03:34 PM

Hi All,

Sure hope you can help with this!

I am seeking a version of "Isle of Innisfree" by a female vocalist for a production of a play set in Ireland entitled "The Anthem Sprinters."

In the play it is supposed to be Deanna Durbin who sings it as a part of a film's soundtrack (she actually never did, so there is no recording) so the version needs to use an "old-fashioned" sounding vocalist, yet still embody that filmaic sound of the 1930's. Tough task to find such a recording!

Can you help me? If you can provide guidance, please reply to me personally: [e-mail]


Thanks!

Mary McDonald-Lewis
Portland OR
USA

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Alley
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 01:24 PM

Thanks so much for letting me know about the correct pronunciation of "Innisfree." I did not consider it pedantic at all. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 07:57 PM

I hope that this not sound pedantic. It is not meant to be. But "Inis" in Irish is correctly pronounced Inish. LIke Inisheer (of the Aran Islannds) Inisfree really means Inis Fraoich (in Connaught Irish pronounced Inish Free) meaning the Island of heather - Inis Fraoich.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST,Alley
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 04:35 PM

I'm so glad there are so many people interested in the song "The Isle of Innisfree". I have listened to this song by Danniel O'Donnell as well as Sinead Stone on the CD "Legacy of a Quiet Man." In each case they pronounce Innisfree as (Inn-ish-free). Apparently this is correct, however, I'm not sure where they get the (ish). The title has nothing to do the "The Lake Isle Of Innisfree", but rather the song is about Ireland. Dick Farrelly used the name Innisfree to refer to Ireland.

Subject: RE: Origins: Isle of Innisfree (Richard Farrelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 01:15 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 09:21 AM

Hello Inga,

You will find a wonderful version and the correct one too, (there are so many versions with wrong words on melody), log on to the website of Singer-Sinead Stone and Musican-Gerard Farrelly. The website is www.stoneandfarrelly.com

Gerard is the son of the composer Dick Farrelly. You can order their album which is called "legacy Of A Quiet Man".

It was through some postings on Mudcat that I heard of them.

All the best.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Com Seangan
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 05:20 PM

Right. The Inisfree that Yeats wrote about had no connection with the more recent song. But don't anyone denegrate the beauty of Yeat's verse - which he wrote while he was in Liondon. Inisfree is a Gaelic for Island of Heather (Inis Fraoich).

Keep it swinging lads (and lassies) !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Inga
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 05:01 PM

Hi Guys,

I found the whole song on here, scroll all the way down. A guy sings it tho'

http://home.swipnet.se/~w-134536/mel441.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Guest Inga
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 04:41 PM

Never heard of this song, I'm trying to find it for a friend. Does Sharron Singers sing thats song -Isle of Innisfree- also?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Verna
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 04:44 PM

Noticed the note from Marth O'Sullivan in Co Cork. Delighted to find another catter in co Cork! How about E-mailing me?   I live in Co Cork (Bantry area) and I sing Innisfree (I also do Dream of Olwen too and there is No resemblence)

Regards Verna [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:47 AM

Thanks for that info Pat, its fantastic. I wish we had such a background to many more great songs and their writers. Dick/Richard Farrelly, sounds like he was a lovely man. A wonderful thing to have a son speak of a father in such a way publicly.

ONE WOULD NEVER PUT A POLICEMAN AND A SONGWRITER/POET IN THE ONE PERSON.

Paul

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 01:55 PM

Further to the previous posting:

Go to a lovely piece and photos on www.quietmanmovieclub.com

Click link "Isle of Innisfree" on the home page.

Pat Downey

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 03:38 PM

Hi NoMattch,

The song has nothing whatsoever to do with the island Isle of Innisfree in Co. Sligo about which W.B.Yeats wrote.

You obviously have not read the first three postings by Gerard Farrelly, son of the composer of the song, "The Isle Of Innisfree".

His father was writing about Ireland, not a tiny island in Sligo. He was using the word "Innisfree" as a metaphor, another name for Ireland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: NoMattch
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 11:43 AM

My grandfather was from Sligo and used to sing the 'Isle of Innisfree' all the time. I remember it with a lot more verses, though. I finally went over to Ireland and took a ferry across Lough Gill to see it. I was surprised how small it was. When the captain said, "To our left is the Isle of Innisfree.." I said, "That's it? The song is longer than the island!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Info. Please:
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 03:02 PM

I am looking for a CD. The Dream of Olwyn Olwen, Ken Higgins
at the piano, or the CD "Play it again Ken" I would
appreciate your help. Thanks, Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 12:03 PM

Steve,

You can get a book entitled 'Song Of Ireland' online from www.musicroom.com

It contains the original sheet music arrangement of 'The Isle Of Innisfree' with full lyric.

There is also available a easier sheet music arrangement in a book entitled, The Waltons Irish Songbook Volume 4, available from www.simplyirish.com

Slan, Pat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 09:36 AM

Unfortunately the last six postings have nothing to do with 'The Isle Of Innisfree' whatsoever.

Steve, you are looking for the sheet music for the song - Log on to ebay, type in the song title in the search box and also click the 'title and disciptions box'.

At this moment you will find a copy of the sheet music with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara on the cover for auction. In order to bid for the item you must first register with ebay.

I myself have in the past got the sheet music for 'Innisfree' through ebay. This is the original piano arrangment by the composer Dick (Richard) Farrelly.

Best of luck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: weerover
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 02:13 PM

Other tautologies:

Mount Fujiyama
Koy carp

wr

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 01:35 PM

There's a river in Dumfries and Galloway called the Old River. An old map shows this as the Auld river and as allt is gaelic for a mountain stream, it is conceivable the the name has gone from allt to auld to old!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:08 AM

Philippa

I was trying to remember some triple ones - English/Gaelic/Norse from Scotland?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:06 AM

In case, you don't realise, Avon or Abhann = river
There are many instances of this sort of bilingual repetition
such as Inch Island and Barnesmore Gap (Bearnas=gap)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:53 AM

Its a bit like the "River Avon"!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 04:35 AM

In Scottish gaelic, innis means an island. If if is the same in Irish, then isn't the title a bit tautological?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From:
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 08:12 AM

Does anybody have the sheet music for "Isle of Innisfree" suitable for the Organ or Keyboard
much appreciated if I could get it, or be directed to a site that might have it.   

   Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Martha
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 02:55 PM

Came accross this thread for the first time. As a lover of Irish songs and YES, "The Isle Of Innisfree" in particular, truly one of the most beautiful melodies ever to come out of the country, I was delighted to read the postings by Dick Farrelly's son, Gerard Farrelly.

Great stuff Gerard, you've set the record straight, I am looking forward to getting your and Sinead's CD "Legacy Of A Quiet Man" with the correct melody and lyrics. Very interested also in hearing the other songs by your father.

Continued success to you both in the future.

Martha O'Sullivan from Co.Cork.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,GERARD FARRELLY
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 09:02 AM

Hello Mary,

Great to hear from you too and thanks for your message above. I have not been to mudcat for a very long time and only now just got your posting, very sorry about that.

Anyway, I hope your're keeping well and you might like to know that the CD has been very successful here in Ireland and lots of things have happened as a result which is great.

Take care
Gerard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 26 Oct 02 - 09:40 PM

Gerard--Great to see you at Mudcat! Not to mention that your sisters have visited as well. Welcome!

I never did get to do the updates to the Feature Song page for Isle Of Innisfree that Mick Lowe and I had on our website prior to us closing the site due to loads of more pressing personal endeavours. But I imagine Mudcat has much more traffic and so posting your site info along with the information about your Dad and the song is better off here!

Thanks again for the insiteful information you shared with me through email and post!

As ever,

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Cathy
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 06:41 PM

Surely the issue as to how "The Isle Of Innisfree" became known as "The Dream Of Alwyn"/"Olwen" is totally irrelevant. There have been misconceptions about many great songs over the years and there will be many more.
         
What is relevant however, is the wonderful and detailed information that has been so kindly supplied to your discussion group by the son of the composer himself. What more does one need.

Cathy   

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 05:52 PM

My last post was supposed to say:

Gerard, in your post dated Oct. 2, you seem to be referring to my post of Oct.3. Am I in a time warp? Or was that just a typo?

¤;-D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Gerard Farrelly
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 02:53 PM

Noreen, Indeed you did supply such information back then and I somehow had completely forgotten this, quite silly of me, please accept my apologies.

As regards "The Isle Of Innisfree" itself, the history of the song and all misconceptions have been fully addressed in my postings of 02 and 03 Oct 02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 01:37 PM

Gerard, you say: I did some research on "The Dream Of Olwyn". If you had bothered to read my post of 03 Oct 02 - 08:34 PM, you would know that there are two different names,

1) Dreams Of Alwyn (the name that some give to the tune to your father's song)

and

2) The Dream of Olwen by Charles Williams. I give the information you have just researched, and far more, including links to midis of each tune, above.

(Malcolm, unlike some, I did pay attention to what was written, in this case by Barry Taylor. I was interested to know how such a thing came about, as Barry merely described what had happened. Can't say I have any further interest in this subject now.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Genie
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 01:15 PM

Gerard, in your post dated Oct. 2, you seem to be referring to my post of Oct. Am I in a time warp? Or was that just a typo?

¤;-D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: GUEST,Gerard Farrelly
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 10:55 AM

I did some research on "The Dream Of Olwyn Olwen" - the composition that some people are mixing up with "The Isle Of Innisfree".

Firstly the spelling is "Olwyn Olwen". The composer was Charles Williams and it was a piece for piano and orchestra and was the theme music of the film "The Way To The Stars".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: ISLE OF INNISFREE
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 01:53 PM

All this was explained earlier in the discussion by Barry himself, but nobody seems to have paid any attention.