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Sleeve Notes
On this second LP, Dé Danann are joined by Johnny Moynihan (late of Sweeney's Men and Planxty
TOM BILLY'S, RYAN'S JIG, THE SANDMOUNT REEL, THE CLOGHER REEL:
The first of these jigs was played by Tom Billy, one of the great Kerry musicians of the early part of this century. The jigs are followed by two reels, popularized by the Old Ballinakill Ceili Band.
Frankie: Fiddle
Alec: Bouzouki
Charlie: Tenor Banjo
Johnny: Bouzouki
Ringo: Bones and Bodhrán
LOVE WILL YE MARRY ME, BYRNE'S HORNPIPE:
We would like to dedicate this song to Cathleen Heir as it was her we first heard singing it. There are however many versions of it around the country. The words (from an old 78 r.p.m. record) were so difficult to understand that the second verse had to be 'reconstructed'. The song is followed by a hornpipe from O'Neill's collection,
Johnny: Vocal and Bouzouki
Charlie: Mandolin And Tenor Banjo
Frankie: Fiddle
Alec: Bouzouki
Ringo: Bodhrán
THE BROKEN PLEDGE, JENNY'S WELCOME TO CHARLIE:
Both of these reels which are favourites of the Galway fiddler Micky Finn are taken from O'Neill's collection. There are many variations of the second reel played today, among them "The Long Note' and 'Jenny and the Weaver'.
Frankie: Fiddle
Alec: Bouzouki
Charlie: Tenor Banjo
Johnny: Mandolin
Ringo: Bones and Bodhrán
THE BANKS OF THE QUAY, CRUCAHARAN CROSS:
These are Dingle Wren Tunes collected in the early 1900's by Charlie's grandfather, Charlie Flannery. The tunes, which have a distinctive marching character about them, are still played in Dingle, Co. Kerry by local fifers and whistle players on St. Stephen's Day.
Charlie: Whistle
Frankie: Whistle
Johnny: Whistle
Ringo: Bodhrán
THE FLOWER OF SWEET STRABANE:
A popular song all over Ireland especially round the border between Co. Tyrone and Co. Donegal where Strabane is situated. The song was given to us by Maggie Barry or Eamonn O'Doherty or somebody like that. There's a fourth verse often sung, in which the lover bids farewell to the whole scene and emigrates, but beautiful though this verse is, it's nice to take leave of the song at the point where he is relishing his prospects in another direction.
Johnny: Vocal
THE FLOWERS OF SPRING, JACKIE SMALL'S JIG:
The first jig is another tune played by the famous Kerry fiddler, Tom Billy. The second tune was given to us , by the Galway piper, Jackie Small.
Charlie: Ten-Key Melodian
Frankie: Fiddle
Alec: Bouzouki
Ringo: Bodhrán
THE LOG CABIN, BEAN A' TIAR LAR:
The Log Cabin was given to us by the well known Connemara musician, Mike Folan. It appears to be a reel version of an old air called The Little Thatched Cabin'. The second reel is a tune from the Donegal fiddler, Johnny Doherty.
Frankie: Fiddle
Johnny: Mandolin
Alec: Bouzouki
Charlie: Mandolin and Tenor Banjo
Ringo: Bodhrán
CAROLAN'S DRAUGHT:
This tune was composed by the famous blind harper O'Carolan who lived in Co. Meath about 300 years ago. It is associated with O'Carolan's visit to Munster. The influence of the classical composers Corelli and Geminiani on O'Carolan's music is evident in this tune.
Alec: Bouzoukies
Charlie: Mandolins
Frankie: Fiddles
Ringo: Bodhrán
THE BANKS OF RED ROSES:
In old songs flowers are often used as symbols of different emotions and red roses stand for passionate love. In the more popular version of this song in Ireland, the gory ending is either left out, or was never there in the first place. This version is from the singing of Sarah Makem of Keady, Co. Armagh.
Johnny: Vocal And Harmonica
Charlie: Ten-Key Melodian
Alec: Bouzouki
Frankie: Fiddle
OVER THE BOG ROAD:
This piece is introduced by a solo from Ringo on
Bodhrán. We heard the reel on an old '78 record played by an accordian player George Ross.
Ringo: Bodhrán
Frankie: Flute
THE HAGS PURSE, THE COLLIERS JIG:
The first of these jigs was given to us by the Sligo flute player Sonny McDonagh. The second tune is a jig version of the well known 'Colliers Reel'.
Charlie: Bouzouki
Alec: Bouzouki
Frankie: Fiddle
Johnny: Mandolin
Ringo: Bodhrán
BARBARA ALLEN:
Another of Sarah Makem's songs. Said to be the best known folk song in the world; it is a tragedy of two lovers destroyed by pride and spitefulness. The song usually has verses describing the causes of the quarrel, but the lack of these doesn't seem to take from the power of this version.
Johnny: Vocal
DEAR IRISH BOY, JOHNNY LEARY'S POLKAS:
The air was given to us by an old fiddler from Aunascal near Dingle, Co. Kerry. It is followed by two polkas which are associated with another well known Kerry musician, Johnny Leary.
Charlie: Ten-Key Melodian
Frankie: Fiddle
Johnny: Bouzouki
Alec: Bouzouki
Ringo: Bodhrán