Saint Patrick was a Gentleman

The May Morning Dew

Mary from Loughrea

A very ancient traditional song about a comical but resourceful man. Versions of this song have travelled the English speaking world for many centuries.

Brian O Lynn sing along www.theguggeringbag.com

A humorous song about a rogue of a character, Paddy McCarthy as sourced in the Dúchas School's Collection - Jamestown N.S., Co. Leitrim. Pupil - Mary Gorman. Informant - Mrs Hunt, whose grandfather John Hunt, Portaneoght, Carrick-on-Shannon, used to sing the song

Ould Paddy McCarthy

The precursor to the more famous "Will Ye Go Lassie Go"

The Braes of Ballquiddhur

A song written by Fionnuala Maxwell capturing the magic of the mummers play

When The Mummers Come Calling

This song was written by a local to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Ballinamuck, 1798, and to bid farewell to their beloved Ballinamuck, as they sought their fortune in the USA.
From Dúchas Folklore Schools Collection
Shancurry School, Co. Leitrim - collector - Seán Ó Céilleachair

The Centenary of the Battle of Ballinamuck

Mohill singer, Gerry Dunleavy, as recorded by American Folk-song scholar and collector  D.K. Wilgus, in Mohill. Co. Leitrim in the late 60's. This song appeared on a few ballad broadsheets but was also resurrected and printed in the local paper by Fr. Peter Conefrey during the 1930's as part of his strenuous mission to promote Irish music, song and dance.

Gerry Dunleavy singing "Billy O Rourke"

Brian Mostyn on accordion with a great tune that also has an easy dance to accompany it - so you can pull some partners out and get dancing!

The Stack Of Barley

Usually played as a march - the song is formed from a poem written by Dr. George Sigerson who was from Strabane in Tyrone (1836 - 1925)
For more on the history of the ballad and another version:
https://youtu.be/x5y_H_a7Mb0?si=_48efWe-vbk4OFvl
check out Eugene Dunphy's brilliant synopsis

The Mountains Of Pomeroy - 23:07:2024, 19.28

Rossinver Braes or "The Lovely Melvin Side" - a beautiful North Leitrim emigration song, as sung by Morty Gilmartin for collector Tom Munnelly in 1971

Rossinver Braes

Song written by Fionnuala Maxwell for "penny ballad" competition at Mohill Horse Fair 2017

Mohill Fair

“Fair Maidens” is a collaboration supported by a Leitrim Arts Individual Artist Bursary and an Artist Support Residency with The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick on Shannon. Over the course of the residency, acclaimed cellist Eimear Reidy and myself explored traditional songs that portray women in various roles, often using stereotypical ideas, but also casting light on the diverse challenges and emotions that women of past generations had to deal with and some that they still grapple with today. We were also keen to see how the voice in its raw form could combine with that of the cello, to produce some interesting ideas around accompaniment and complementation of the traditional genre. This collaboration culminated in a recording of five songs – four old traditional songs and one newly composed song – “The Comely Maiden”

(recorded by Leo Logan at Vibes Recording Studio, Drumshanbo)


The Comely Maiden

The Lassie Of Jamestown

Another "Lovely Leitrim" song from an unknown source - cannot have enough songs praising the scenery and places around Leitrim.

Leitrim's Land So Fair

Verses merged from those written by Tom Newton, Annaduff and Teresa Faughnan, Dromod in the 1930s - both were in school in Cloonturk and as part of the Dúchas Schools' commission, they wrote verses about where they came from - creating a lovely, historic picture of Dromod, in song.

The Pride of Dromod Town

A funny song about the illicit practice of poitín making in Ireland - particularly in the west in this case. This one has a nice lilting chorus...

Rare old Mountain Dew

"Long ago there lived in Quay Street in the village of Drumsna a little man who made nails for boots. His name was John Harvey. He made the nails from wire. He cut the wire into short pieces the length of a nail and he reddened them in the fire. He had a little mould the shape of a nail and he used to hammer the little pieces of wire into the mould. He used to beat the top of it well so that it would become the shape of a heal.
When he had a good deal of nails made he brought them to the market and sold them."

Dúchas Schools Collection
Lisduff
Informant: Mrs John Gill, Curramartin
Collector: Tom J. Scollan

The Nailer of Drumsna

A song written by poet Bernard Gray for his friend, Drumshanbo poet, William Doyle - early 1900s - all in prasie of Drumshanbo

Lough Allen's Shore

With thanks to Comhaltas Traditional Music Archive for allowing me to share this track of the late, great, Mae Reynolds Malone, singing a classic Leitrim Ballad (R.I.P. Dec 2024)

Mae Reynolds Shores of Lough Bran

With thanks to Comhaltas Traditional Music Archive for allowing me to share this track of the late, great, Mae Reynolds Malone, singing a ballad written by Aughavas man Michael Whelan for the 50th commemoration of the tragic events of Selton Hill in 1971. (Mae R.I.P. Dec 2024)

Mae Reynolds Slopes of Selton Hill

A jaunty little song about the dangers of being too hasty when it comes to courting...no swipe left or swipe right involved! (Image by Freepik)

No Come Again

Written by the late, great Josie McDermott to remember the "Lough Key boatman", Jim Flynn who lived on Ballindoon shore. In the 50s, he was a well known figure around Doon shore, offering boat trips for sixpence across to the islands, including Church and Castle Island.

The Boatman of Lough Key

An emigrant song written by Kevin Prendergast - singing the praises of Longford Town and the surrounding areas.

Dear Old Longford Town

A jaunty song that can be traced back to the mid 1800s - giving a warning to men who set off to woo a woman not to be whistling too loudly!!

Fionnuala Maxwell

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