Irish Fridays

[Padraig]

Well, I just think we need more drone-based hardanger d'amore clips on this thread.

From the extensive list available, here's a certain Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpjrLb4zxOI

Excellent,G.
Sometimes I feel like a story or a song.
Here's a story, with a chorus... all together now...no excuses

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lisdoonvarna+christy+moore+lyrics

Ooh Jerry Colgan.

[Globaltruth]

Excellent,G.
Sometimes I feel like a story or a song.
Here's a story, with a chorus... all together now...no excuses

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lisdoonvarna+christy+moore+lyrics

Ooh Jerry Colgan.

[johncorrigan]

Picked up my copy of Songlines from the local newsagent today and there was an extra 'free disc' given out from Cultur Eireann. Aoife Scott's 'All Along the Wild Atlantic Way' had me longing for a wee stroll along a wild Atlantic Beach and no bad thing, a bit of longing. Here she is on the Late Late Show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLc7VLqoQTY

...also on there, and from a completely different strand of Irish folk, Lorcan Macmathuna sings a song about the exile of Columcille to Scotland, 'A Grey Eye'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq0K50wweew

Quite glorious really, in my opinion!

[Globaltruth]

I much prefer the second one JC - - although the sound quality is awful, as if he's singing through mud - could be because here the snow is whirling around and the colours are greyed out...

[johncorrigan]

I much prefer the second one JC - - although the sound quality is awful, as if he's singing through mud - could be because here the snow is whirling around and the colours are greyed out...

Fair enough, Global. Certainly the version from Lorcan's record ' The Arrows that Murder Sleep' that is on the Songlines Irish CD sounds a load better. I loved it...of course the subject appeals to me. On St Columba's Bay on Iona there is a point called 'Hill of the Back to Ireland', where legend says that after Columcille lands on the Island he climbs to that place and looks back , and being no longer able to see Ireland He decides that this is where he and his followers will serve out their exile. At this point he cries and the tears turn to green stones which we still search out among the rocks and pebbles when we are there.

[Lat-Literal]

I much prefer the second one JC - - although the sound quality is awful, as if he's singing through mud - could be because here the snow is whirling around and the colours are greyed out...

The second one is outstandingly good.

It would segue well with Pauline Oliveros in her accordion period and the figures in the stained glass window if they had a voice.

Van Morrison - Snow in San Anselmo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpcsThJEgWM

[Padraig]

... a song about the exile of Columcille to Scotland, 'A Grey Eye'.

III Fil suil nglais

Towards Ireland a grey eye
Will look back but not see
Ever again
The men of Ireland or her women.

trans Seamus Heaney Human Chain 2010

[Globaltruth]

Great post Padraig, thank you.

Yesterday was the local Music Centre concert - always a joyful, pleasingly chaotic event where the music and passion of the performers plus dedication of the music teachers who give their time for free every Saturday morning shines through.

One of the choices was 'Lark in the Clear Air'.

I'm hoping someone(else) may have a favourite version to add here... because that performance yesterday is now mine.

[johncorrigan]

Irish Americans...they know how to hold the true meaning of Christmas in their heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx-sdR6Yzk&list=PLW4Cpr-Wh4tPV8Agt-agSIvPWDRYeFF53&index=3

[Lat-Literal]

Irish Americans...they know how to hold the true meaning of Christmas in their heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx-sdR6Yzk&list=PLW4Cpr-Wh4tPV8Agt-agSIvPWDRYeFF53&index=3

Well, it's me birthday on Monday which means that it will also be seventeen years since Kirsty MacColl:

Kirsty MacColl/The Pogues - Miss Otis Regrets - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzTcWlbhvBs

(10 October 1959 – 18 December 2000)

I was at Echo and the Bunnymen in Brighton on that night. This was probably their first Irish chart hit:

Echo and the Bunnymen - The Back of Love - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1B6LrOmNsg

Sadly, Jean who shook my hand at St Martin's in the Fields passed quietly away on 16th May 2017.

A great woman - she managed 25 years with the immense but difficult talent that was Ewan - she was 94.

(Kirst and Jean are our Croydon really but I'm happy to attach Ireland and Scotland)

And best wishes at this difficult time to Janice Long!

[johncorrigan]

I forgot she was Cheggers' sister, Lat. On the subject of Ewan MacColl, I see that Peggy Seeger has released an autobiography 'First Time Ever'. Have a cracker of a weekend, Lat!

[Lat-Literal]

I forgot she was Cheggers' sister, Lat. On the subject of Ewan MacColl, I see that Peggy Seeger has released an autobiography 'First Time Ever'. Have a cracker of a weekend, Lat!

Thank you and yep - the two of them were close. Had a lot of fun together in the 1990s. There has been a stand in for JL on BBC Wales following her brother's death. I will never forget that memorial day. It was advertised briefly on BBC local radio. I had the understanding that it was a semi-public event but wasn't sure. Just got the train up and once outside - it's the artists' church in London - there were masses of family and friends plus Billy Bragg. I thought I'd made a big mistake. Well, I'd been quite close to Bill in my time - climbed on the stage when invited to be with him and Mancotal for Nicuragua and I later happened to be next to him by the climbing wall at Glastonbury as he policed his kids for health and safety. But Holly Johnson was at my shoulders and also Bono with loads of cameras and that is virtually royalty.

To be frank, I felt like a gate crasher and expected to be turned away by security, although I had uncharacteristically blagged my way in at ULU for Sultans of Ping. And I was waved through - just walked in - you were a friend, yes? Well, I suppose so - and I got a free gig from all the bigwigs in attendance. Great - but so emotional, there were also tears. When they blasted out "Us Amazonians" from the new disc - and it was massively loud - the only musical comparison in terms of feeling that my body was about to crash to the ground from the shaking was at Womad with the Rizwaan Muazzam Qawwali singers. On leaving, Jean was at the door and shook everyone's hand. She was so gracious. Were you a friend, she asked? Again I stumbled. Yes, you were, she said. Thank you so much for coming. It was all so moving.

I don't like excessive noise but if you have the opportunity to play this at full blast you will get the drift.

I find it difficult to have it on at low volume:

Kirsty MacColl - Us Amazonians - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZh9ayEmKHY

[johncorrigan]

At least I think it's Friday, and just to keep you in the mood for the fast approaching Hoggers a spot of Voice Squad singing the English tune 'Oh Good Ale'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfso9V3lGSk

...and then the 'Banks of the Bann' came on Youtube...so moving!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq01OuEGCfA

[Globaltruth]

If its drink you're after JC, then dip your glass into this stream...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7gzXGYlGA

[johncorrigan]

If its drink you're after JC, then dip your glass into this stream...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7gzXGYlGA

You always enjoying making your Marx, Global.

I know...very poor!