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26 Nov 03 - 07:34 PM (#1061664) Subject: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Barbara 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 |
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26 Nov 03 - 08:50 PM (#1061708) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: akenaton Thanks for the link Barbara. Iv always loved the song and its great to be filled in on the back ground. Best Wishes Ake. |
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26 Nov 03 - 09:34 PM (#1061733) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Joe Offer 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 |
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26 Nov 03 - 09:56 PM (#1061739) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Barbara 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 |
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27 Nov 03 - 02:35 PM (#1062126) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Big Tim 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! |
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27 Nov 03 - 04:17 PM (#1062177) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Joe Offer 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- |
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27 Nov 03 - 04:43 PM (#1062191) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Barbara 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. |
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30 Nov 03 - 03:14 PM (#1063284) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Barbara 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 |
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01 Dec 03 - 09:15 AM (#1063647) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Dave Hanson Without doubt the most dreary song I have ever heard. |
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01 Dec 03 - 09:42 AM (#1063662) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: Wolfgang 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 |
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13 Mar 20 - 01:33 PM (#4039354) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: CupOfTea 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 |
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13 Mar 20 - 06:07 PM (#4039391) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: GUEST,Starship I think this is the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRHQAtKbRTk |
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13 Mar 20 - 06:14 PM (#4039395) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: GUEST,Starship 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. |
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14 Mar 20 - 05:07 PM (#4039564) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: GUEST,cujimmy 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. |
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14 Mar 20 - 05:56 PM (#4039566) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: meself 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 .... |
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15 Mar 20 - 04:59 PM (#4039752) Subject: RE: Origins: the letters from Kilkelly From: cujimmy 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. |