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Siege of Kinsale/Flight to Salamanca (Mike Fitzmaurice)
The year 1601 was a watershed year in Irish history and culture. A rebellion lead by northern chiefs O'Neill and O'Donnell sought aid from Spain. A small force of 4,000 Spanish troops landed in far southern Ireland at Kinsale. They were immediately besieged on land and sea by troops loyal to Elizabeth I who were in turn besieged by Irish troops. The day should have gone to the Irish and Spanish but due to impatience and miscalculation the English troops were victorious. O'Donnell and, later, O'Neill fled to Salamanca in Spain. The whole order in Ireland changed; within a hundred years 85% of Ireland would be the property of foreign landlords.
Bermuda Line (Jean Bolger/Mick Bolger)
Inspired by Jean's grandfather who did, indeed, live in Wallasey and worked on the Bermuda-Furness Line.
Gravel Walk (traditional)
A great tune on fiddle or flute, done full justice here by Rod. He is accompaied by Mike on the bass and Mick on bodhran.
Planxty Colcannon (Rod Garnett)
Written by Rod as a present for the band shortly after joining. "Planxty" is a word coined, it would seem, by the harper Carolan and denoted a tune written in honor of, or in thanks to, a patron. (This prompted Colcannon to respond with two tunes written in honor of Rod entitled "You're Welcome, Rod," and, "Don't Mention It.")
The Bachelor (traditional)
Learned from a recording by famous Corkman Jimmy Crowley.
Oxford Road (Jean Bolger) /Bloom of Youth (traditional)
The first tune, written by Jean, is named for the band's address. The second is traditional.
Kilkelly (Peter Jones)
Written by Peter Jones of Washington, D.C.
"P" Stands for Paddy (traditional)
An old standard with a non-standard arrangement. "Paddy's Tag" written by Mike.
Ballydesmond Polkas (traditional)
Ballydesmond is a small town in West Cork. The tunes are ordered No. 2 and No. 1. There is a third...
Anach Cuain (traditional)
In 1828 a boat with 30 passengers sank in fine weather on Loch Corrib with most souls lost. This lament was written by the poet Raifteiri. My translation, mostly faithful if not beautiful, follows:
As health prevails I will tell the tale
Of the number drowned at Anach Cuain
I pity tomorrow each father and mother
Wife and child with streaming eyes
Oh God of grace who made the heavens
We could have borne losing two or three
But so fine a day without wind or raining
And a crowded boat all swept away.
How great the wonder before the people
To see them stretched out on their backs
Screaming and wailing that would frighten a person
The combing of hair and sorting debris
There were young lads there in their prime
Laid on pall and borne to church
'Twas their wedding clothes that they were waked in
And God of Glory how great the loss
Mountain wildfire and heart scalding
On the place they died; and a hard reproach
For many's the creature left to sore weeping
Streaming, hard-keening each Monday morn,
No lack of knowledge was their misguiding
But great ill-luck at Caislean Nua
My song is done of the many drowned
A source of grief for Anach Cuain.
The Game Cock (traditional)
This traditional ballad explains what may have happened when the trooper was away doing what troopers were reputed to do.
Planxty Ellie Murphy (Jean Bolger)
Written by Jean for one of Colcannon's most dear friends.
Slip Jigs-A Fig For a Kiss, Drops of Brandy, Up and Down Again (traditional)
In Ireland when something achieves excellence, the soubriquet, "and-a-half," is often added. Thus, a well-pulled pint of Guinness might be a "drink-and-a-half." This sesquipedalian status is achieved by slip-jigs by nature. A normal jig is 6/8 time whereas a slip jig is 9/8, half as much again. Of course, only the cleverest of musicians-those who can count higher than six-have the skill to play these.
The Hungry Grass (Jean Bolger/Mick Bolger)
Legend has it that the grass growing on the graves of victims of the Great Famine (1845-1847) will drain all strength from those who walk on it. If the person thus afflicted does not eat within a few hours, they will die of hunger. Grass was also eaten by those who could find no other food. Families were entombed in their cottages by neighbors who pushed the walls of these hovels in on the dead. So many people were weakened with starvation and disease that this was a wiser expedient than trying to dig graves, The immigration ships for the U.S. were known as "coffin ships" for the number of people who died on those crossings.
The Rann Maker (Doug Berch)
Written by Doug and named for "The Counsels of O'Riordan, the Rann Maker" in the Padraic Colum "Anthology of Irish Verse."
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