Lyr ADD: The Boys of Barr na Sraide

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: GUEST,Jane Earl
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 01:42 AM

I do not like you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: GUEST,Cornelius Sullivan
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 01:28 AM

Boys of Barr Na Sraide....was written by my Grandfather Dan o curran (courtney) from Maulin Caherciveen

you can ask anyone from Waterville/ Dromid area they all know who wrote the song originally

its sad to see Clifford getting all the praise for something he didnt do

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 03:22 PM

Not a million miles away from it certainly! "Strabane" and "Star of the County Down" cover a multitude!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: belfast
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 02:29 PM

Christy Moore says that he first heard the song from Mick Hipkiss in Birmingham. Elsewhere I have heard him say that he learnt it from Sean Garvey.

The tune seems to be a close variant of "The Flower of Sweet Strabane".
Unless it's exactly the same tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: GUEST,Com Seangan
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 11:18 AM

My own favourite singer of Barr na Sraide was Sean O Siochain, a well known baritone who performed weekly on Radio Eireann's "Aroundd the Fuire" programme. He had a lovely voice and he put great feeling into this song. He later became General Secretary of the GAA. At Sean's funeral some years ago they played Barr na Sraide.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 09:59 PM

I Irish word for village is Sraid baille literally "street town" and almost every village in Ireland had a Barr Na Sraidé. It was the area at the end of the town where the young men would congragate for a bit of sport and amusement after the chores of the day were finished.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From:
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 09:03 PM

Should go something like this.......phoneticlly....I think.
    "THE BOYS OF BAWR NHA SHRAWDHE" BAWR/top NHA/of the SHRAWDH/ street. Translated, it is THE BOYS OF THE TOP OF THE STREET, not HIGH STREET.
I think the reference probably is to a street that runs up a hill. ????

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: Big Tim
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 01:50 PM

"Banna Strand" is a different song. It is indeed about the capture and execution of Sir Roger Casement in 1916.

Whether or not he was bringing in guns or trying to get to Dublin to call off the Easter Rebellion is a subject, still, for disagreement among historians. (I'd be surprised if "Banna Strand" isn't in the DT).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: Mickey191
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 11:50 AM

Does this song have anything to do with a song called Banna Strand which I recall from my childhood--lovely melody but I can't recall the lyrics? Some connection to Sir Roger Casement & his trying to get arms from germany to Eire.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: Big Tim
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 11:14 AM

Anyway...I have a copy of the lyrics signed by Sigerson Clifford, dated 10 June 1970. At the top of the page is a drawing by local artist Sean O'Shea, captioned "Barr na Sraide, Cahersiveen". It's a street scene (but also a place(!), complete with a little wren.

I've also got a street plan of Cahersiveen. "High Street" is on the edge of the Town and runs straight along to the Carhan (not Carham, as in CM's version) River, changing its name as it goes: Old Road, Fair Green, Rocky Road. This is the precise location where Daniel O'Connell was born, in Carhan House.

The story behind the song? Been discussed before. It's what you make of it. For me, it's primarly a nostalgic song about childhood and a celebration of place. Others prefer to emphasise the one political verse. In Caher itself it's known as the "Anthem of Cahersiveen" and is seen mainly as a celebration of the Town, the song that put it on the map, as Cahersiveen not Barr na Sraide! (Sorry Martin).

PS When I was a boy in rural Ireland, the "street" was simply the area in front of the house.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 20 Dec 03 - 03:49 AM

No Arthurian links, Big Tim - just wandering through the pronunciation of "clear" in Irish placenames or names of places - not all of which are likely to be found in gazeteers.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: Big Tim
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 03:35 PM

I said "seriously"! Martin, have you been communing with Arthur G?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 03:29 PM

Clare? Who mentioned clare?

Regards

p.s. How did she get here?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: Big Tim
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 03:27 PM

Seriously, you won't find "Barr na Sraide" in gazetteers: I tried!                                                         

Quite simply, it's the name of a street in Cahersiveen, which means "stone fort of Saidhbhin". Locally, it's known as "Caher", but in this context it's probably wise to use the full name, to avoid confusion with Cahir, in Tipperary, sometimes spelt at Caher!                                                            

Is that clear?!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: Big Tim
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 02:33 PM

It's a great song anyway!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 08:33 AM

In fact, a quick search shows that both Church and State c i to i on this one!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: MartinRyan
Date: 19 Dec 03 - 08:05 AM

Ah come on Big Tim .... when is the name of a place not a placename! BG!

Regards

p.s For some reason, I'm always unsure about that "s" - even though it is perfectly logical

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: Big Tim
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 10:43 AM

It is not a place name, but is the Irish language name of the street in Cahersiveen (the more common spelling, and certainly the form used locally), meaning "top, or, high street", where Sigerson Clifford (1913-85) was brought up. He was actually born in Cork but his family moved to Kerry when he was but a nipper. I posted quite a lot about him on one of the other Threads a while back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 05:44 AM

Its in Caherciveen (sp.?). Poem was originally published as "Hunting the Wren in South Kerry".

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Boys of Barr na Sraide
From:
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 05:20 AM

where exactly is 'Barr na Sraide'and what is the story behiend the poem.

many thanks
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Irish Rebel Boys of Barr na sraide
From: Red
Date: 06 Aug 99 - 01:28 PM

Peadar, The song that you seek is on an album (I have the vinyl - I'm not sure of the availability on CD)Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, & Jimmy Faulkner Live In Dublin. There was a lyric sheet included with the record. it is a wonderful version. They don't come any better than Christy Moore.

Subject: RE: Irish Rebel Boys of Barr na sraide
From: Peadar
Date: 06 Aug 99 - 05:27 AM

Thanks to all those who wrote back. I appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Irish Rebel Boys of Barr na sraide
From: Bruce from Bathurst
Date: 31 Jul 99 - 04:21 AM

The poem was written by Sigerson Clifford, whose son lives right here in Bathurst, although I seem to remember that his father was from Caherciveen in south west Co. Kerry.

My brush with fame!

Slainte

Bruce

Subject: Tune Add: BOYS OF BARR NA SRAIDE
From: alison
Date: 31 Jul 99 - 02:43 AM

Hi,

Here's the tune as taken from the Christy Moore songbook.

slainte

alison

MIDI file: BOYSOF~1.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: BOYS OF BARR NA SRAIDE
TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Key: G
Start
1200 1 62 099 0238 0 62 099 0002 1 64 094 0958 0 64 094 0002 1 64 091 0478 0 64 091 0002 1 64 088 0478 0 64 088 0002 1 62 096 0478 0 62 096 0002 1 64 098 0478 0 64 098 0002 1 62 092 1438 0 62 092 0002 1 55 091 0958 0 55 091 0242 1 57 100 0238 0 57 100 0002 1 59 084 0478 0 59 084 0002 1 59 092 0958 0 59 092 0002 1 57 092 0958 0 57 092 0002 1 57 090 0478 0 57 090 0002 1 57 099 0692 0 57 099 1948 1 62 092 0238 0 62 092 0002 1 62 100 0958 0 62 100 0002 1 59 090 0478 0 59 090 0002 1 62 104 0958 0 62 104 0002 1 64 091 0238 0 64 091 0002 1 66 094 0238 0 66 094 0002 1 69 099 0958 0 69 099 0002 1 69 092 0478 0 69 092 0002 1 67 088 0438 0 67 088 0762 1 71 083 0238 0 71 083 0002 1 69 096 0958 0 69 096 0002 1 67 102 0478 0 67 102 0002 1 64 098 0478 0 64 098 0002 1 62 086 0478 0 62 086 0002 1 64 098 0478 0 64 098 0002 1 67 093 1394 0 67 093 1006 1 62 103 0478 0 62 103 0002 1 62 102 0958 0 62 102 0002 1 59 090 0478 0 59 090 0002 1 62 103 0478 0 62 103 0002 1 64 099 0478 0 64 099 0002 1 67 107 0478 0 67 107 0002 1 69 090 0958 0 69 090 0002 1 69 093 0478 0 69 093 0002 1 67 093 0958 0 67 093 0242 1 71 102 0238 0 71 102 0002 1 69 098 0958 0 69 098 0002 1 67 096 0478 0 67 096 0002 1 64 096 0478 0 64 096 0002 1 62 081 0478 0 62 081 0002 1 64 090 0478 0 64 090 0002 1 67 098 1438 0 67 098 0482 1 67 100 0478 0 67 100 0002 1 66 086 0478 0 66 086 0002 1 64 093 0958 0 64 093 0002 1 62 094 0478 0 62 094 0002 1 64 098 0478 0 64 098 0002 1 62 086 0478 0 62 086 0002 1 64 094 0478 0 64 094 0002 1 62 094 0958 0 62 094 0002 1 59 100 0478 0 59 100 0002 1 55 092 0958 0 55 092 0002 1 57 100 0478 0 57 100 0002 1 59 079 0478 0 59 079 0002 1 59 096 0958 0 59 096 0002 1 57 090 0958 0 57 090 0002 1 57 084 0478 0 57 084 0002 1 57 088 2398 0 57 088
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:BOYS OF BARR NA SRAIDE
M:3/4
Q:1/4=100
K:G
D6|E4E2|E2D2E2|D6|G,5A,|B,2B,4|A,4A,2|A,6|
-A,5D|D4B,2|D4EF|A4A2|G5B|A4G2|E2D2E2|G6|
-G4D2|D4B,2|D2E2G2|A4A2|G5B|A4G2|E2D2E2|G6|
-G2G2F2|E4D2|E2D2E2|D4B,2|G,4A,2|B,2B,4|A,4A,2|
A,6|-A,6||

Subject: RE: Irish Rebel Boys of Barr na sraide
From: PJ Curtis
Date: 30 Jul 99 - 03:19 PM

Check out the Kerry Traditional singer, Sean Garvey's new alum' Out Of The Ground' for the definative version of the song. pjc

Subject: RE: Irish Rebel Boys of Barr na sraide
From: alison
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 10:40 PM

I have done out the tune for this and as soon as I can get my sequencer to behave and play it back I'll post it......

slainte

alison

Subject: Lyr Add: BOYS OF BARR NA SRAIDE (Sigerson Clifford
From: Brakn
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 05:07 AM

Is this the one you wanted?

regards Mick Bracken

BOYS OF BARR NA SRAIDE
(Sigerson Clifford)

Oh the town it climbs the mountain and looks upon the sea
At sleeping time or waking time, it's there I'd like to be
To walk again those kindly streets, the place where life began
With those boys of Barr na Sraide who hunted for the wren

With cudgels stout they roamed about to hunt for the dreolin
We searched for birds from every furze from Litir to Dooneen
We danced for joy beneath the sky life held no print or plan
When the boys of Barr na Sraide went hunting for the wren

And when the hills were bleeding and the rifles were aflame
To the rebel hills of Kerry the Saxon strangers came
But the men who dared the Auxies and who fought the Black and Tan
Were those boys of Barr na Sraide who hunted for the wren

But now they toil in foreign soil where they have made their way
Deep in the heart of London town or over in Broadway
And I am left to sing their deeds and praise them while I can
Those boys of Barr na Sraide who hunted for the wren

And here's a health to them tonight wherever they may be
By the groves of Carham river or the slopes of Bi na Ti
John Daly and Batt Andy and the Sheehans, Con and Dan
And the boys of Barr na Sraide who hunted for the wren

When the wheel of life runs out and peace comes over me
Just take me back to that old town between the hills and sea
I'll take my rest in those green fields, the place where life began
With those boys of Barr na Sraide who hunted for the wren

Subject: Irish Rebel Boys of Barr na sraide
From: Peadar
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 03:13 AM

I am looking for the words to a song called "the boys of barr na sraide" about the war of independence. Thanks