Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Alana Barrett
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 05:58 PM

Thanks for sharing, Peter!

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 05:43 AM

As the thread is up again here's one of interst from the RTE archives:

Róise na nAmhrán 1953

'Insíonn Róise Mhic Ghrianna (Róise na nAmhrán mar a bhí aithne uirthi 1879-1964) mar a tháinig sí isteach go hÁrainn Mhór ina dílleachta ó thír mór nuair a bhí sí an-óg. Casann sí ‘Ansacht na nAnsacht’.

Mrs Róise Green (known as Róise na nAmhrán) tells how she was born on the mainland and came in to live on Arranmore following the death of her father as a young girl. She sings ‘Ansach na nAnsacht’ (Love of Loves).

Déanann Róise cur síos ar an dóigh a tháinig sí féin agus a bheirt dheirfiúr isteach go hÁrainn Mhór ina ndílleachtaí lena máthair nuair a bhí sí cúig bliana d’aois i ndiaidh dá n-athair bás a fháil.Tháinig máthair Róise ar an tsaol ar an oileán. D’fhoghlaim sí a cuid amhrán óna máthair agus bheadh an mháthair ag ceol agus í ag cardáil olla. Nuair a bhí sí ceithre bliana déag d’aois chuaigh Róise ar fastó go Contae Thír Eoghain. Ceolann sí an t-amhrán Ansacht na nAnsacht amhrán grá a bhfuil leaganacha de le fáil ar fud na tíre mar Chuaichín Ghleann Neifín. Bhí an Dr Seán Ó hEochaidh, ó Choimisiún Béaloideasa na hÉireann, in éineacht le Proinsias ar an oileán agus cuireann seisean na ceisteanna ar Róise.

Róise describes coming to live on the island with her mother and two sisters as orphans following the death of their father. Her mother was born on the island and her relatives were still there. When she was fourteen she was hired out to work in County Tyrone. She learned her songs from her mother who would sing when she was carding wool. Róise sings the song ‘Ansacht na nAnsacht’ (Love of Loves) versions of which can be found in all the Gaeltacht areas generally under the title ‘Cuaichín Ghleann Néifinn’ (The Little Cuckoo of Glen Nefin). Dr Seán Ó hEochaidh of the Irish Folklore Commission was with Proinsias on Arranmore Island and he prompts Róise to speak and sing.'

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Alana Barrett
Date: 07 Sep 20 - 02:07 AM

Hello Jim,

I see your offer above to share the songs of Róise. She was my great, great Aunt. I would love a copy of her songs (and my Dad will be equally excited!) My email is alana_barrett @hotmail .com (separated email so it doesn’t get picked up by bots.)

Look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks,
Alana

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 16 May 20 - 08:05 PM

According to https://www.worldcat.org/title/roise-na-namhran-songs-of-a-donegal-woman/oclc/38116118 there are copies at five university libraries (three in the U.S., one in Canada, one in Ireland).

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 16 May 20 - 05:25 PM

Hi Claire
Will e-mail you in the monrning - Bond film I haven't seen about to start
I know Derry well
My offer stands for all who contacts be by the way
Jim

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 20 - 04:55 PM

Many thanks for all responses. Bonne soirée :)

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Claire Nic Ruairí
Date: 16 May 20 - 04:46 PM

Hi Jim, thanks for getting back to me. I am from Derry but I live in Brussels :) I can give you an email address I use for music things and we can follow up there. It's mainly the Irish language songs I'm interested in, as that's what I sing. If you give me your address there I can post you a copy of my CD. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 16 May 20 - 04:07 PM

Sorry. That post was me.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 20 - 04:06 PM

PHJim, here's a link to it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxV0xposMzA

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: PHJim
Date: 16 May 20 - 03:53 PM

Anne Byrne recorded it in the mid-sixties as:

When first I came to Ireland, some pleasure there to find,
A damsel there from Galway was pleasing to my mind,
Her rosy cheeks, her ruby lips, like arrows pierced my breast,
And the name she bore was Molly-O, the lily of the west.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 16 May 20 - 02:23 PM

How could I miss it Claire - lovely singer ?
You are welcome to either a copy ot a digitised copy via PCloud
No obligation, but I would love to hear your CD
I would need an e-mail from you unless you are in shouting distance from Miltown Malbay
I'm not happy putting my address up but Joe offer or one of the mods (or someone who knows might oblige - they have my permission
I don't sell anything, I'm sure nobody paid Róise for her songs
Where are you ?
Stay safe
Jim

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 20 - 02:14 PM

A chairde,
I know this thread is a few years old but I'm hoping Jim Carroll will pick up my message here. I'm looking for a copy of Róise na nAmhrán:songs of a Donegal woman. I see here that someone offered to purchase an mp3 copy of this. I'm happy to do the same if this is still a possibility? I have just made a CD of traditional Irish songs myself, including a version of song Róise had. I could send you on my CD 'An Clár Bog Déil' if you were interested. Claire Nic Ruairí

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 26 May 15 - 01:34 PM

"It's a shame that there's so little interest in genuine traditional singers." Jeez. Tell me about it. I've spent the last fifty years banging my head against a brick wall of ignorance and indifference.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Kevin
Date: 26 May 15 - 12:57 PM

Hi Jim,
This time the email arrived.
This is wonderful news, I'm really looking forward to it!

It's a shame that there's so little interest in genuine traditional singers. If more people would be asking for such music, it would be more readily available...

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 May 15 - 12:18 PM

Hi Kevin
Went off OK this morning - hasn't bounced
Just resent it - let me know if it arrives
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Kevin
Date: 26 May 15 - 11:08 AM

Jim Carroll:
Are you sure you sent the mail to the address I posted?
I don't know what went wrong, but I didn't reccieve your email.

Fred McCormick:

RTÉ themselves do not list "Songs of a Donegal Woman" in their online shop catalogue. Neither do the two shops you mentioned.
Well, Claddagh seems like a great address for recordings of Irish trad music, I'll keep them in mind for future music purchases.

Now let's see what Jim Carroll has to say.
If nothing helps, maybe I could pay you for an mp3 copy of the CD?

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 26 May 15 - 06:31 AM

Sorry folks. The anonymous Guest was me.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 15 - 06:30 AM

Kevin, I am the person who wrote the the review in Musical Traditions which you mentioned. The CD was issued by Radio Teilifís Éireann as part of an informal series of Irish traditional singers and musicians, and the discographical details are as follows:- Róise Bean Mhic Grianna. Róise na nAmhran; Songs of a Donegal Woman. RTÉ. CD 178.

I'd start by contacting RTÉ and finding out whether it is still available. If not, I'm not too well up on specialist Irish music shops these days, but I'd certainly try Custy's music shop in Ennis. Also, the Claddagh record shop in Dublin, if it's still going.

If the disc is no longer obtainable then all I can say is bad cess to RTÉ. Of all the records they ever published, that to me is surely the jewel in the crown. It should have been kept in catalogue, purely to show people what a national treasure looks like.

Tell you what, if all else fails, give me a shout and I'll see if I can master the intricacies of Drop Box and send you a copy of mine.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 May 15 - 04:08 AM

A few years ago, I was asked to give an illustrated talk on Irish traditional song and singing to groups of visiting American students taking "Irish Studies" courses. One of the examples I used was to give them a transcript of an American version of Lily of the West, sing them an Irish version (O Lochlainn's or similar) - and then ask them to figure out how much a song could change and still remain recognisably the same!

Regards

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 May 15 - 03:17 AM

The note I gave to the song is all there is in the booklet.
I agree with you on the American origins, the same happened to 'Peggy Gordon' of course.
Have e-mailed you
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST
Date: 25 May 15 - 04:13 PM

Thank you very much, Jim.
I'm not (yet) registered on mudcat, so I can't send private messages, but I could contact you via email, my email address is [e-mail]

By the way, does the booklet say anything about where Róise learned the song?
I'm curious, "Lovers' Well" is obviously a (lovely, I have to admit) mishearing of Louisville and it also mentions Michigan, so it seems to be an American version that somehow ended up in the repertoire of a traditional Irish singer.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: Amos
Date: 25 May 15 - 02:47 PM

Joan Baez recorded an American version, concerning Flora, the Lily of the West. Youtube here.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 25 May 15 - 01:55 PM

Hi Kevin
This is the song from the booklet along with the somewhat sparse note.
If you can find a way of contacting me, please do so and I may be able to help further
Jim Carroll


1.5    THE LILY OF THE WEST
1   I just came down from Lovers' Well some pleasure for to find,
A handsome girl from Michigan so pleasing to my mind;
With rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes this arrow's pierced my breast
And they called her handsome Mary, the Lily of the West.

2   I courted her for many a day, her love I thought to gain
But too soon she slighted me which caused me grief and pain;
She stole away my liberty and deprived me of my rest
And they called her handsome Mary, the Lily of the West.

3   As I roved out one evening down by a riverside
I spied a lord of a high degree conversing to my bride;
He sang a song so merrily whilst I was sore oppressed
And he sang to handsome Mary, Lily of the West

4   I rushed up to my rival, a dagger in my hand,
I tore her from his arms and boldly did him stab;
Being mad with desperation my dagger pierced his breast
And I was betrayed by Mary, the Lily of the West.


1.5    THE LILY OF THE WEST
Colm O Lochlainn published a version of this song in IRISH STREET BALLADS (p. 184) from a broadside source. In it the hapless young man is sent for trial but manages to go free because of a flaw in his indictment.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Kevin
Date: 25 May 15 - 01:22 PM

I haven't thought of that, I guess it's worth a try.

There's a contact address on the RTÉ website.
I'll send them an email.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 May 15 - 01:12 PM

Kevin, have you tried asking at the recording company?

BTW, the length of the song is 2:57 although in one place it's shown as 2:56.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Kevin
Date: 25 May 15 - 01:07 PM

Thanks for trying to help.
This is indeed from the CD I'm looking for.

It's not "The Lily of the West", but it's better than nothing, I guess.
If anybody knows more, please let me know.

Subject: RE: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 May 15 - 12:54 PM

Complete shot in the dark. YouTube.

Subject: Róise na nAmhrán's Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Kevin
Date: 25 May 15 - 12:39 PM

Hello all,
My name's Kevin, I'm a young folk enthusiast from Germany and I'm new to mudcat.

I decided to create a thread here because I'm looking for a rather obscure CD that I want to buy.

RTECD 178 Róise na nAmhrán - Songs of a Donegal Woman, released in 1994

I'd really like to own this CD, but I can't find any website that sells it, not even RTE's own website: http://shop.rte.ie/category/Traditional-Folk/2221.13

There's a review of the CD on mustrad: http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/sean_nos.htm

I'm especially interested in Róise's version of "The Lily of the West". It's one of my favourite songs and this seems to be the only available non US recording of the song by a source singer.

If anybody knows where I could get this CD (or at least that one song), any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,
Kevin