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Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 1, Issue 2, Page 11

Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 1, Issue 2, Page 11
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periodical Publisher
Irish Folk Song Society
periodical Editor
[Periodical]
periodical Title
Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society
volume Number
1
issue Content
2021Baoibhin an glearin romham sinte,Ann ar fhdg m4 mo chile smo ghrdli;S bhl me 14 roimh-jmnjdhe ifontaDfhdg m aigne faoi smfiid as faoi sg th.Thruigh mn leus do gheall m aon-shearcDo lasadh 14 mo shoillsiugh sa t-slighe;Aeht ba dhiomhaoin neamh-fhimamhail mo ghir-dhearcLe hun trom4id neultadh na h-oidhch.It is very strange, as I have already remarked, that so few of the ancient airs thathave been preserved are accompanied by words. Most of them must have originatedin times when the Irish language was spoken all over Ireland. Of the eighteen hundredand odd airs collected by Petrie, and which, I have been told, are now being published,only an insignificant minority have words, either in English or Irish. It seems to methat it is the duty of those who are engaged in the laudable work of resuscitating theIrish language, to have Irish words put to those old airs. Many think that Irish wordssuit those old airs better than English words; for Irish, in spite of the fact of therebeing many guttural sounds in it, is one of the best languages for vocal purposes, owingto the large number of broad vowel sounds it contains, and its natural tendency to becomerhythmic. I saw a purely English audience moved by a song in Irish in a way I hadnever seen an audience moved before. It was in London, some years ago, that the songwas sung by Miss Harriet Rose-Byrne. Its author is Doctor Annie Patterson, and itsname is The Spring Song. It is one of the six Gaelic songs published by Boosey & Co.,of London.It would be a step in the right direction to have Irish words put to all the strikinglygood airs that Petrie collected; but if the Irish words are incorrect, vulgar, unrhythmicand dialectic, as many folk-songs in the Irish language unfortunately are, it would bebetter to leave them for ever unaccompanied with Irish words.T. ONEILL RUSSELL._) I* rY ,.: 1Ji.L -ii 1L JJjI 1 1) i U i i.:, 1 ii11 e 1Li JMn. ROBERT JoHNsToN, Lisnaveane, Belfast, sang me this air a few years ago; hehad heard it in Tyrone rhen he was a boy. In response to an enquiry I made in theTyrone Constitution last year, I received, through the post, a complete copy of theballad in manuscript from Mr. Francis Duggan, of Altgoland, near Castlederg, as helearned it some twenty years ago. The ballad is still current about Strabane, its native place.moorIou h utarp. C. MILLIGAN Fox.A Tymne Ballad.a-f-rrJ -I LThe first time I saw young Moorlough MaryTwas in a market of sweet Strabane;Her smiling countenance were so engaging,All other fair ones she did trapan.Her killing glances bereave my senses;No rest can I find either night or day;In my silent slumber I start with wonder,Saying Moorlough Mary, will you comeaway?From Moorlogh banks I will never wander,Where heifers graze on yon pleasant soil;Where lambkins sporting, fair maids resorting,The timorous hare and blue heather bell.Ill press my cheese, and my wool Ill tease,And my ewes ill milk by the eve of day;The hurling moor.eook and lark alarms me;From bonnie Moorlough Ill never stray.Ill go down to yon woodland to my situation, Where recreation is all in view,On the river Mourne where salmons sporting,And sounding echoes bring something new.The thrush and blackbird will join in chorus.With notes melodious on Liskea bras,And the sweet lough stream I would restore you,Saying, Moorlough Mary, will you conicaway?Were I man of great education,And Erins isle all at my command,Id lean my head on her snowy bosom,In wedlocks band, love, give me your hand.Id entertain her both eve and morning;With robes Id dress her both rich and gay;With kisses sweet I would embrace her,Saying Moorlough Mary, will you comeaway?F
issue Number
2
page Number
11
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
1967-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 1, Issue 2

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