Irish Fridays

[Globaltruth]

Couple of roving Irish vagabonds find themselves in a canoe on a Swiss lake.
No paddles,
no rods... luckily a pesky drone was there to capture their performance

https://youtu.be/87ak16HFNt0

[Globaltruth]

Got to love a splash of colour....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYdPtcx-4mo

[Padraig]

I was playing this the other evening from an old homemade tape - probably one of Alan Keith's 100 Best - and I thought, everybody will love it on Irish Friday. John McCormack, Silver Threads Among the Gold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqZPxA7UyJ0

[johncorrigan]

I was playing this the other evening from an old homemade tape - probably one of Alan Keith's 100 Best - and I thought, everybody will love it on Irish Friday. John McCormack, Silver Threads Among the Gold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqZPxA7UyJ0

Always makes me think of my old Dad - he loved the Count, Padraig.

[Globaltruth]

Always makes me think of my old Dad - he loved the Count, Padraig.

Also a fave of Mrs GT's mum and dad. Thanks Padraig.

[Globaltruth]

Can anyone play the violin?
Here’s the answer...

https://youtu.be/lf4ao1BWhDo

[Globaltruth]

On Monday Kate Molleson played Braes of Balquidder by Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh.

I can't find a version, so instead here is the song played by Anne Crosby Gaudet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyxnzQJ6wCA

then a song by Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Thomas Bartlett - All Good Things live at the Pepper Canister Church

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpXpgknF99M

I'm not sure we've given their album sufficient adulation along the way, so maybe this makes up for it.


I keep reading that Braes of Balquidder is the inspiration for Wild Mountain Thyme, but I think that's wrong.
It is written by William McPeake from the famous McPeake family of musicians from Belfast, first recorded in 1957.

Here's a version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOG3wj_-enc

[you cant escape him at the moment]
Is it time for me to tell my "I travelled in the same private car that Bobby D once used" story yet? What's that you say? You've heard it before? Surely not.

[johncorrigan]

I keep reading that Braes of Balquidder is the inspiration for Wild Mountain Thyme, but I think that's wrong.
It is written by William McPeake from the famous McPeake family of musicians from Belfast, first recorded in 1957.

Here's a version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOG3wj_-enc

[you cant escape him at the moment]
Is it time for me to tell my "I travelled in the same private car that Bobby D once used" story yet? What's that you say? You've heard it before? Surely not.

Don't call me Shirley, GT, but no, I haven't heard the one about you and Bob, and I think that it's just about time you spilt the Bob beans! By the way, I thought 'Wild Mountain Thyme' was written by Paisley's Poet, Robert Tannahill and collected in the early 1800s. I like the area around Balquhidder. I recall a very enjoyable weekend spent in that part of the world, many a long year ago, although these days it has a busy, fast road running through it. Thanks for the Bob track - don't hear enough of him these days.

[Padraig]

I keep reading that Braes of Balquidder is the inspiration for Wild Mountain Thyme, but I think that's wrong.
It is written by William McPeake from the famous McPeake family of musicians from Belfast, first recorded in 1957.

Global, in 1957 I was a member of a newly formed choral society in Andersonstown. We sang at a concert and shared a bill with the McPeakes - in fact we were on after them and I recall watching them up close and hearing their brand of Irish music for the first time. I'm afraid we did not share their repertoire - I think we sang All in the April Evening! But, to make up for that, I have something Irish. Since I have two left feet I always enjoy watching a bit of dancing that I know I will never be able to attempt. I admire this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApTDP6AFO7Y

[Globaltruth]

Well JC, how about this:

Words by Francis McPeake, based on "The Braes of Balquhidder" by Robert Tannahill

There's a lot of confusion - I've always thought Francis McPeakes had a knack for producing something that instantly sounded 'traditional'; maybe that's not suprising if he was in the recycling business.
As for the Bob story, this is not the thread for it, but the key detail from the driver for me (and I'm no Dylanologist) was that Bob always asked to be dropped off a few hundred yards away from the gig and walked the final yards on foot. I'll tell you the rest next time we meet...

Thanks for the dancing Padraig - I'm deeply envious of them and believe the physical strength needed for that particular posture is immense. Is there a genuine reason why the upper body has to remain still? Or is it simply for fear of appearing unseemly. Anyway a good clip - I love the intent way the audience focus on the feet.

[johncorrigan]

Well JC, how about this:


There's a lot of confusion - I've always thought Francis McPeakes had a knack for producing something that instantly sounded 'traditional'; maybe that's not suprising if he was in the recycling business.
As for the Bob story, this is not the thread for it, but the key detail from the driver for me (and I'm no Dylanologist) was that Bob always asked to be dropped off a few hundred yards away from the gig and walked the final yards on foot. I'll tell you the rest next time we meet...

The Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary suggests: 'The lyrics and melody are a variant of the song Wild Mountain Thyme (also known as "Purple Heather" and "Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?") a Scottish folk song that was collected by Francis McPeake 1st.' So you are bang on, as usual, GT...there's a lot of confusion. I will admit I am biased - I have fond memories, as an infant, of passing Tannahill's cottage every day on my way home from my first school. Then, as a teen my pal and I used to walk up the Gleniffer Braes and there was a well where you could drink with one of those cast iron cups and an inscription dedicated to Tannahill by one Hugh McDonald:
The bonnie wee well on the breist o’ the brae,
Where the hare steals to drink in the gloamin’ sae gray,
Where the wild moorlan’ birds dip their nebs and tak’ wing,
and the lark wets his whistle before sterting to sing'

I can still taste that cool water after a lengthy wee climb, before singing a wee tune to myself! (Apologies for romantic interlude).

[Padraig]

Thanks for the dancing Padraig - I'm deeply envious of them and believe the physical strength needed for that particular posture is immense. Is there a genuine reason why the upper body has to remain still? Or is it simply for fear of appearing unseemly. Anyway a good clip - I love the intent way the audience focus on the feet.

That was a highly choreographed step dance for two dancers - the sort expected in modern competitions, or Riverdance extravaganzas! But here is Kieran Jordan in a sean nos, old style dance, where improvising is allowed and expected. The footwork remains but the style is looser and more relaxed in the upper body.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_yObOy9aw0

[Globaltruth]

That was great. Now, if we're talking looser, then I think this is worth a watch:

Hod my jacket...

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

V impressive and impossible not to enjoy - and, when you think what was going on at the time of recording, makes it even more impressive that they could all share an affectionate grin with him.

[johncorrigan]

That was great. Now, if we're talking looser, then I think this is worth a watch:

Hod my jacket...

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

V impressive and impossible not to enjoy - and, when you think what was going on at the time of recording, makes it even more impressive that they could all share an affectionate grin with him.

Wow! I need to get one of those pioneer pins, Global! I couldn't help but wonder whether he could do that before his accident.

[Globaltruth]

With a bit more work this young woman could be excellent

https://youtu.be/S43HHFm8UpU