Help: origins behind Irish songs

Subject: origins behind Irish songs
From: GUEST,laura
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 09:56 AM

I am able to find all the lyrics to traditional irish songs but I was wondering if anybody could help me to find the origins of those songs. is there a web site that explains the lyrics, is there anybody who could explain some of the lyrics to me?? Most irish songs tell stories, historical events, real people places etc and that is what i am having extreme dificulty finding out thanks Laura.xxxx

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: MartinRyan
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 10:08 AM

Hi, Laura

There's no one place to find info on Irish song - but the Mudcat is as good a place as any to start! Make a list of the titles you're interested in and try a forum/digital tradition search on those. Then come back here with queries on any loose ends. Good luck!

Regards

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: bill\sables
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 10:14 AM

Laura, one of the most interesting things I found when touring around Ireland was that every sign post pointed to a song. I did not beleave that there was a place called Ballyjamesduff till I went there, and I was once woken from my slumbers in the back of the car once by the driver who shouted "We're at Spancill Hill".
Bill

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 10:19 AM

Ah, Ballyjamesduff, the home of my ancestors.

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Fiolar
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 01:36 PM

To Steve. Are you using an alias? I thought it was Paddy Reilly who had left Ballyjamesduff.

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 03:12 PM

Could have been my Grandfather using an Alias.

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: SeanM
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 03:32 PM

Here's the first thread that ever hooked me into Mudcat...

Where is Spancil Hill?

Go ahead and ask away, though I'd advise starting an individual thread with the name of the song you're interested in as the title.

M

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Noreen
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 07:06 PM

Thanks Sean, I was going to link to that thread.

Hi Laura. I'd go along with the advice above. Search the forum for discussions on an individual song such as the wonderful 'Spancil Hill' above, then if you can't find it, start a new thread with the name of the song in the title.

There are lots of people here who will be very happy to help.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 07:54 PM

Come back Steafan Litir Mor to Ballyjamesduff?

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 06:46 AM

And of course a spancel is a short rope tied between the two diagonally opposing legs of a grazing animal to stop it straying.

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Fergie
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 07:51 PM

Its also a gift of money

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Jimmy C
Date: 24 Jan 01 - 12:34 AM

The Spancil may have came about because of a donkey fair held there, there would have been a lot of rope used to stop them from wandering.
In his song " Sullivan;s John" Pecker Dunne refers to " A Hairy Ass Fair, in the County Clare
In a place they call Spancil Hill.

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Jimmy C
Date: 24 Jan 01 - 12:47 AM

The Spancil may have came about because of a donkey fair held there, there would have been a lot of rope used to stop them from wandering.
In his song " Sullivan;s John" Pecker Dunne refers to " A Hairy Ass Fair, in the County Clare
In a place they call Spancil Hill.

Subject: RE: Help: origins behind Irish songs
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 24 Jan 01 - 09:51 AM

Liam's Brother,

One of these days. My father actually retired back to Ireland about 10 years ago and I would love to visit him and do a little Family Tree stuff. However, I have two very active children who have made it pretty much impossible for me to get away for more than a weekend. I'd love to see Ireland.