now about Rory Dhall Cathan

Subject: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 12:52 AM

I have just left off playing the beautiful Irish song known as "O Give Me Your Hand." The composer's name is something like Rory Dhall Cathan. (This is the anglicized form.)

Does anybody know anything about him?

Also, does anybody know anything about "Rory Dhall's Sister's Lament", which is in O'Neill's Music of Ireland?

Subject: RE: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 01:15 AM

Think he was also called "Blind Rory", now you know as much as I do. I would like to know what else he wrote, as "Give Me....." is so beautiful.

Subject: RE: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 02:11 AM

No Irishman will recognize the original Latin title "Da mihi manum" or later English "Give me your hand". Start over with "Tabair Dam Do Lamh". If that doesn't work see Bunting's 1840 volume or O'Neal's 'Irish Music and Musicians'.

Subject: RE: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 02:14 AM

Dear Guest
We don't want the tune, we have that. What we want is info about Rory himself.

Subject: RE: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 02:25 AM

Look where I said and you'll get both, but cwey little is known aboutn the composer. Probably more reliable is the brief sketch of the composer in Donal O'Sullivan's 'Carolan', II, p. 160. The tale of the connection of Lady Eglintoun with the tune is in all three.

Subject: RE: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: John Moulden
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 05:48 AM

In very brief:

Rory Dall Ó Cathain - associated with the family which dominated the Roe Valley of (what is now) County (London)Derry. Said to have been born near Limavady - half way between Derry City and Coleraine. Blind (hence "Dall"). Spent some time in Scotland where he is often confused with a Scottish harper called Rory Dall Morison. Donal O'Sullivan is the authority.

Subject: RE: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 02:51 PM

Thank you for the information, John. It's just a coincidence, but "Roe" is a common placename where I live, and Rory's home in the Roe Valley makes him seem closer.

I believe Rory composed in the late 1600's, is that right?

Subject: RE: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: John Moulden
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 03:17 PM

Roughly 1550 - 1650 according to O'Sullivan.

Subject: RE: now about Rory Dhall Cathan
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 07:38 PM

Good, good. The older a piece is, the more our band likes it.