Folk music--Ireland]]> Violin music--Ireland]]> Violin and piano music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Walter, Chrysandra]]> elsewhere in this collection played by yours truly.

I know that Sandy would be proud of this tune, 'The Golden Flower' (a translation of her full name, 'Chrysandra'), which Bill composed after she left us to go to her eternal reward. As soon as I heard it, I knew that I wanted it to be the first tune in this collection. I was moved to tears by Bill's gift.

The other gift associated with Bill's composition is this hauntingly beautiful performance of 'The Golden Flower' by our special friends Hilary and Duncan Cumming on violin and piano. Hilary and Duncan played at our wedding at Saint Anne's Church in Lowell, Massachusetts. I somehow feel that their playing of Bill Black's gift has eased Sandy's journey to the Land of Peace where she will have pain no more. She is watching over all of us. Thank you Bill, Hilary, and Duncan.]]>
Cumming, Hilary Walther (violin)]]> Cumming, Duncan J. (piano) 232023178]]> Black, Bill (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> Gallagher, Rita]]> Gallagher, Rita (vocals)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> 'Tart ar an Ól'), ballad singer Josephine McNamara was another artist who made the long journey – in her case from County Leitrim – to perform in Diarmuid Ó Cathain's concert series. She was always a special favourite at these events. Coming as she does from the musical McNamara family it is no surprise that she was All-Ireland champion singer for a number of consecutive years. Josephine left Ireland in the 1960s, and I was delighted to meet her in New Haven, Connecticut, thirty years later. She sang this song for me for this collection, a song we both first heard many years ago on an old 78 RPM record.]]> McNamara, Josephine (vocals)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Nugent, Sean]]> Nugent, Rosemary]]>
'I am a nice wee bouncing girl,
And my age it is scarce sixteen,
And when I'm dressed all in my best
Sure I look like any queen...

On the first of May I will make my way,
To the Magherafelt May Fair...

My mother cautioned me going out
Do not stay long in town
For if you do, your father and I,
On you we will surely frown.
Be sure to shun bad company
And of young men beware,
How nice you be, don't make too free
At the Magherafelt May Fair!'

Listening to those All-Ireland champion band members play along with Rosemary's singing, one can sense the exuberance and pride that they felt playing their music. For this collection, the march is played by Sean Nugent's son Larry on the flute, accompanied by Pat Broaders on the bouzouki.]]>
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> McMahon, Robbie (vocals) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Traditional Irish Music on Flute and Tinwhistle, on the Shanachie label.]]> Nugent, Larry (flute)]]> Nugent, Sean (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, Irish--Ireland]]> Celtic harp music--Ireland]]> Penny whistle music]]> Caesar, Pádraigín (harp, vocals)]]> Caesar, Siobhán (whistle)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Marches--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Miller, Rodney (fiddle) (composer) 25930822]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> McMahon, Robbie (vocals) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Rowsome, Leo 92519391]]> Redican, Larry]]> Notes From My Mind. The pipes that Liam used on that recording were made by Mr. Rowsome. The air is soulfully played here by fiddle player John Daly from County Cork. More of John's own music and compositions may be heard on his CD entitled John Daly.]]> Daly, John (fiddle)]]> Brehony, Kevin (piano)]]> Redican, Larry (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Penny whistle music]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Edmonds, Phil]]> To The Dance Floor, released in 2006 by a Rhode Island-based group called The Gnomes. Among its members is Phil Edmonds, the composer of this beautiful tune. Phil and I went to the same school in Killaloe, where we learned to play the tinwhistle, and Phil's father, Eddie Edmonds, was one of my secondary school teachers. The words below are taken from the notes to their CD:

'The Celtic Tiger is the term referring to the system of economics and way of life in Ireland for the past several years. While it has resulted in much wealth for many people (not all), the Celtic Tiger is devouring Irish Culture. Wherever money and material possessions become a priority, the quality of life decreases. Phil wrote this air, "The Celtic Lamb", hoping that Ireland, and all of us, will move towards a more sustainable and gentler lifestyle.'

It gives me great pleasure to have another Killaloe man associated with this collection. Thanks, Phil, for the tune, and thanks to the rest of the band for their participation in this project.]]>
Edmonds, Phil (whistle) (composer)]]> Torch, Cathy Clasper (fiddle)]]> Read, Otis (guitar) 309842361]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> Considine, Michael]]> McMahon, Robbie (vocals)]]> Considine, Michael (composer) ]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> The May Morning Dew.]]> Gallagher, Rita (vocals)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Violin music--Ireland]]> Violin and piano music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Lawrie, Margaret]]> Burnham, Michael (violin)]]> Lawrie, Margaret (piano) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, Irish--Ireland]]> Celtic harp music--Ireland]]> Penny whistle music]]> Airs]]> 1000 Years of Irish Poetry.]]> Caesar, Pádraigín (harp, vocals)]]> Caesar, Siobhán (whistle)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Violin music--Ireland]]> Violin and piano music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Bygone Days. I am delighted to have the tune included in this collection.]]> Burnham, Michael (violin)]]> Lawrie, Margaret (piano) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Miller, Rodney (fiddle) (composer) 25930822]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, English--Ireland]]> McMahon, Robbie]]>
Robbie McMahon, the master balladeer and composer, sings for us once again on this track. I first heard him singing this song around the same time as I did that interview with the lady from Killaloe. Robbie's compositions often tell of days gone by. He was a powerhouse of information and history, and his delivery of these songs had a way of transporting us back in time. He was a household name in County Clare, and in my home he was loved by all within.

The final verse in his song opens with a call for Father Dan. It was this same verse that appeared by kind permission on my mother's Memorial Card when she 'passed on to her eternal shore'. Thanks to my brother Michael for reminding me of Robbie's composition. The master kindly sang it for me again when I recorded him in his home in Spancilhill, County Clare, a few short years before he himself went to his place 'far beyond the sky'. The lines below are from that same last verse:

'Oh Father Dan, how are you, and come over here to me.
Come lay your holy hand on me for I am on my way,
To a land that's far beyond the sky where I'll have pains no more,
For God himself has called me to his own eternal shore.'

Robbie, we will miss you. Your likes will not be seen again.]]>
McMahon, Robbie (vocals) (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, Irish--Ireland]]> Mulqueen, Ann 21766115]]> Mo Ghrása Thall na Déise. The English translation of the lyrics is provided courtesy of Tomás Ó Ceilleachair.]]> Mulqueen, Ann (vocals) 21766115]]> Donohue, Gabriel (keyboards) 103020997]]> Creative Commons License
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Folk music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> McDonnell-Garvey, Máire 4192187]]> Keegan, Josephine (fiddle) (composer) 72741909]]> Donohue, Gabriel (piano) 103020997]]> Creative Commons License
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