Origins: the letters from Kilkelly

Subject: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Barbara
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 07:34 PM

I just found this link in the Winter 2004 Sing Out and have been reading transcriptions of the original letters that Patrick MacNamara, schoolmaster of Tavrane School in Kilkelly, County Mayo wrote to John Hunt. The link is:Kilkelly letters, and also contains an interview with MacNamara's grandson, photos, discussions and other information.
The information was compiled by contemporary County Mayo native Michael Clarke.
I found this fascinating, hope you will enjoy it, too.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: akenaton
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 08:50 PM

Thanks for the link Barbara.
Iv always loved the song and its great to be filled in on the back ground.    Best Wishes Ake.

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 09:34 PM

That's a fascinating link, Barbara. Did Sing Out! have any information about the song?

Where is Kilkelly, anyhow - what county?

I've added a MIDI for the song, converted from John in Brisbane's MIDIText. Does it sound right? Are the Digital Tradition lyrics correct?

-Joe Offer-

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Barbara
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 09:56 PM

Did you go to the link, Joe? It's on a page from County Mayo, just like it says in my post. Information about the song is mostly on that page: the letters were found in the attic of Peter Jones' family in America. Don't know more than that, except that he(and his brother, I think) turned the letters into a song. There's pictures of Kilkelly there as well.
Sing Out doesn't say much more about it, just posts the link under "Resources" in the front.
I'll check the tune and words.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Big Tim
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 02:35 PM

One of the most moving songs I've ever heard: thank for the letters Barbara.

BT

PS I was in Mayo in September: visited the home area and Museum of Michael Davitt, surely Mayo's greatest son. I never made it to Kilkelly but will next time!

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 04:17 PM

Oops. I went to the link quickly, Barbara, but didn't study it closely - and missed the County Mayo mention there and in our post. Sometimes we all get lost in the sea of words, even when they're right in front of our noses.
For my sins, I will now go to the map and pinpoint Kilkelly exactly (Click) - ah, Kilkelly is 2.5 miles from Knock International Airport, which means it's closer to Knock Airport than Knock is. I rode right past that airport, so I shoulda known - but the mind gets foggy after fifty....
Click for an even better map of County Mayo. I have to say that as a Catholic of the liberal persuasion, Knock made me a bit nervous and embarrassed. I saw basins with holy water running from the faucets, and more tacky plastic religious goods than I've ever seen in my life. I have to admit, though, that the chapel where we had Mass was very pretty, and the acoustics were great for singing.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Barbara
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 04:43 PM

Well, Joe, I don't think I should give you too hard a time for having a life out in meatspace, as opposed to living here 24/7 like you used to. Happy Thanksgiving. I gave the tune a listen and it's close enough for folk music. I mean, it's a little different than the one I know, but who knows which came first? Or if I've processed it myself?
Blessings,
Barbara,
who is the only even halfway healthy person in her family today, and so is hanging out at Mudcat instead of the table. That respiratory flu that's going around sure is ferocious! The kid did the emergency room for respiratory distress on Tuesday, and the spouse is in the sack (where he's been for a day and a half)with a temp of 101. Think I'll open a can of tuna fish.

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Barbara
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 03:14 PM

I gave the tune a listen, and it's a bit different than I learned but not big time. I'm pretty sure I first heard it on a Reilly and Moloney tape, but I wouldn't want to bet money that I'm singing their version. The more I collect songs, the more I learn how much they change every time they are passed along orally. It's fascinating in a way. Very often a song changes from minor to major, though I have traced one song, The Going Home Song by Jim James, back to its source and discovered that, while it performed in a mode (mixolydian) in this country, it was written in England in major with a flatted seventh (blues). It will be available in both versions in the upcoming folknik.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 09:15 AM

Without doubt the most dreary song I have ever heard.

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: Wolfgang
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 09:42 AM

It is a kind of uneasy feeling for me to read that very private correspondence, but I did read each word. A fascinating link.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: CupOfTea
Date: 13 Mar 20 - 01:33 PM

Just noticed this thread, and though the link is still active, the Mayo page only gives you an option to search. Using variations on place name, people's names and "letters" got lots of suggestions, none of which took me to the letters.

I have been fond of this song since I first heard Robbie O'Connell, Mick Maloney and Jimmy Keane perform it, back in the 1980s. It resonated with me because of some letters that existed in my family, once read, but now lost, as my aunt gave them to someone doing geneology research. She never kept the contact, and they never shared anything in return.

Would love to read these.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 13 Mar 20 - 06:07 PM

I think this is the song.

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

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 13 Mar 20 - 06:14 PM

The transcriptions of the letters are available at

https://www.irishcentral.com/homepage/the-moving-letters-of-a-family-to-their-son-in-america-after-the-famine

Just above the video linked-to in my last post. They are available there by date.

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 14 Mar 20 - 05:07 PM

Around 2006 myself and a friend were touring Ireland and we drove into Kilkelly and while buying a few items at the local supermarket "Tarpeys", when we asked about the story / song The gentleman who served us and his assistant spent the next hour or so explaining everything, and then produced copies of the actual letters which he photocopied for us. He had tapes and CD's of lots of people who had recorded the song, and just up the road in the cemetery, I believe is the grave stone of the father "Bryan Hunt", though I didn't go and look for it. If anyone is over in that area I'm sure local people would be just as enthusiastic and friendly as they were to us if you visit Kilkelly.

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: meself
Date: 14 Mar 20 - 05:56 PM

Having read through those letters, which are pretty mundane, I'm even more impressed with the song-writing.

Of course, there are those who find the song itself 'dreary' ... is it another case of a song being done to death? I've only ever heard a recording by ... somebody - on a cassette I have in storage somewhere, but I have the impression that in some circles it was a popular song ....

Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly
From: cujimmy
Date: 15 Mar 20 - 04:59 PM

I remember the first time I heard the song, it was on radio, I cannot remember who it was singing the song, it was a woman who sang it so beautifully. I immediately fell in love with the song and was determined to learn it, and I did. Then the first time I sang it in a pub I frequented in Bathgate Scotland the pub went silent as I sang it. I have heard other people sing it since to similar appreciation by those present. So I was so glad when I got the story from those people in the shop in Kilkelly, its one of the loveliest songs I've ever heard.