Songs about foxhunting in Ireland

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 11:14 PM

The song Seán Ó Duibhir a' Ghleanna has references to the hounds in the chase.

(The Somerville and Ross stories are wonderful - but why did the BBC decide to make the RM (resident magistrate) English? In the stories it's made clear that he's Irish! One of the best characters in the stories is the wonderfully disobedient "retriever" Maria, whose idea of retrieving a shot duck is to grab it, swim to an island and there eat it!)

Yes, we certainly have foxes. I counted five young foxes dead on the road in last weekend's drive from Dublin to Clare; though a lot of foxes, like other Irish people, have migrated to the cities.

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 02:32 PM

Any other views?

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 03:27 AM

The Fox chase I have heard, early boys of the Lough? And once on the mouth organ in a Folk Club near Bristol pretty good really.

I am probably wrong but the songs mentioned so far seem to be songs about Foxes rather than songs about Fox hunting from within the hunting fraternity. Is this because either their isn't much of a hunting fraternity in Ireland or when their was one it was associated with the Anglo Irish protetsant rich and the Irish tradition of song and music is largely native Irish Catholic and poor?

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 02:04 AM

There are plenty; a little modest use of the search engine here will find several if you care to try it.

Rather than Finbar Furey's rather sloppy take on The Fox Chase, I'd recommend Seamus Ennis, from whom he seems to have tried to copy it; though not all that well, really. I've heard it played on the fiddle, too; rather more of a technical challenge than the pipes, which make yelping sounds by default.

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 01:55 AM

Guest mentioned the Fox Chase on the pipes. If ever you hear that played well it sounds incredible. That a pipe player can re-create the sounds of a hunt on the pipes is mind boggling.
Finbar Furey plays it to great effect,
Best wishes. Mike.

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: HuwG
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:32 PM

As an aside, the BBC made three series in the 1980's, The Irish R.M., based on the book by Somerville and Ross, and starring Peter Bowles, Bryan Murray and Niall Toibin.

The series were set and filmed on location in the west of Ireland. Many of the characters spent much time blundering around the countryside chasing foxes (which invariably got away).

The hunting scenes, and many others, feature some very well played snatches of Irish tunes. (I believe that the theme tune to the series is "Haste to the Wedding".)

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 06:43 PM

Yes, there are more well known songs in Ireland about hunting hares than hunting foxes. That said, there certainly are some. Not sure how musical the fox-hunting fraternity are, mind you!

off the top of mey head "The Kilruddery Hunt" is one with a number of versions. Thee are also hunting songs adapted to a political context - we Irish being very fond of the latter.

Regards

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 03:55 PM

Two instrumental virtuoso pieces - the Foxchase for the pipes and the Foxhunter's Reel for the fiddle. Foxchase is a suite which incorporates some pieces which also have an independent existence. Other parts of it replicate the sounds of the hunt and of the fox at different times through the chase. Song tune at the end has various versions with words in Irish, English and mixed Irish and English (macaronic) - dialogue between farmer and fox etc. Should be in the archives here. Search for something like Maidrín Rua, Good Morrow Fox,

Any interest in coursing - try The Bogs of Shanaheever. If you don't find it on the net, it is on CD by Johnny Mháirtín Learaí on Cló Iar-Chonnachta label. Joe Heaney rendition may also be available on CD (it is a little "more corrupt").

"The Fox went out in a hungry plight" amongst the Songs of Elizabeth Cronin edited by Professor Dáibhí Ó Cróinín (Four Courts Press, Dublin). One of the "Before he reached his den-O" things.

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland & songs about it
From: GUEST,Old timer
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 02:50 PM

51 years ago I went fox hunting in Ireland. Found one. Married her. We're still married.

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 02:21 PM

Thanks Seamus. I found some info in the Digitrack.

What I was most interested in was the culture of Fox hunting. In England it seems to have thrown up quite a lot of songs. Does such a culture exist in Ireland and has that culture itself thrown up any songs

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 02:00 PM

Reynard the Fox. Tally-ho hark away.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Foxhunting in Ireland
From: gnomad
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:04 AM

There were certainly foxhunts in the south in the early 20th century, and I don't suppose they eliminated the fox. I think they were largely an Anglo-Irish phenomenon, so they may not have sat well with the Republic.

I don't know about the current situation, though, and I cannot think of any hunting songs that I know are from there.

Subject: Foxhunting in Ireland
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 08:30 AM

Are foxes common in Ireland? Does anybody hunt them? If so are any songs connected with this practice?