This melody was supposedly composed by Ruaidhrí Dall Ó Catháin (Rory Dall O'Cahan) in the 1600's. The earliest printed version of the melody is Aislean Oighear in Bunting's 1796 "A General Collection of Ancient Irish Music" Frederick Weatherly wrote the lyrics and published them to a different melody in 1910. The song was republished in 1913 with this melody and became a hit in England, Ireland and the U.S.

by Turlough Ó Carolan

by Rory Dall O'Catháin

Anonymous

traditional

by Cornelius Lyons

by Ellen Tepper

Anonymous 1650

Anonymous

by Turlough Ó Carolan

by Turlough Ó Carolan

Anonymous c. 1735

by Turlough Ó Carolan

traditional Manx

Anonymous c. 1713

by Turlough Ó Carolan

by Ellen Tepper

by Bob Pasguarello

Traditional Irish

The first tune is a very popular session tune. Will’s father composed the second tune on Good Friday last year.

This song is likely about a spot near the head of the River Lee on the Beara Penninsula, Co. Cork. I originally heard it on a recording of Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin. Thanks to his sister, Eibhlís, who sang this song at Sean Nós Milwaukee and who welcomed me at her home in the Muskerry Gaeltacht (Múscraí) in West Cork. A constant promoter of the Irish language and culture she founded Éigse Dhiarmuidín in her brother’s honor. This is a festival with classes in traditional Irish music usually held the first weekend in December. It is a great place to begin your journey into sean nós singing or to study at an advanced level www.eigsedhiarmuidin.ie

The Joy of my Life is dedicated to Jasnia and Liam. Many of our ancestors left Co. Clare and made their livelihood on the Green fields to America. We dedicate this entire album to Chris Collins, the one who keeps us all together with her Clare charm and her love for the music.

Will learned this first tune from Jack Cohen. Geehan’s has several other spellings: Grogan’s, Geoghan’s, Geoghagan’s to name a few.

Sung in Irish Gaelic. This song is about the mermaid, Mary Kinney, who under a spell marries a sailor and bears him two children, Mary and Patrick. The spell is broken. She is condemned to parish on land or live in the ocean, watching her family from afar. This is the sad parting conversation with her two children.

These are two great tunes learned at the Catskills Irish Arts Week. The musical inspiration for this CD was born out of friendships that were forged through many summers in the Catskill Mountains www.east-durham.org

Terry was introduced to this song at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉirinn in Listowel. Hundreds of years old, its haunting poetry and melody guarantees its enduring presence in Corca Dhuibhne, the gaeltacht in West Kerry.

The Honeymoon is one of Doug’s favorite’s. Will played the Holly Bush for Eileen O’Brien and she said it was one of her father’s, the late great accordian player from Tipperary, Paddy O’Brien.

This is a traditional set dance, meaning that a dance master passed down specific patterns that he created for this particular piece of music.

Sliabh Luachra is an area on the boarder between Co. Cork and Co. Kerry. Tom Billy refers to a blind fiddler who lived and taught in that region during the early 1900's.

Sung in Irish Gaelic. This song is about the mermaid, Mary Kinney, who under a spell marries a sailor and bears him two children, Mary and Patrick. The spell is broken. She is condemned to parish on land or live in the ocean, watching her family from afar. This is the sad parting conversation with her two children.

A lighthearted song about the difficulties beginners often encounter when learning Irish.

This young woman wants to look industrious to attract one of the seaweed sellers as they pass.

A beautiful Irish lullaby I found in the Dublin Traditional Music Archives. Also recorded by Maura O'Connell and several others.

A song often learned in school. In the story the mother asks if anyone has seen her son with the description of him barefoot, without hat or coat, school book in his pocket, carrying and a little backpack with his lunch in it.

Gola and Tory are islands off the coast of Donegal. Gola is near the mainland but Tory Island is much farther away in the North Sea. Philip was not the only one to run aground on Tory. Perhaps the most famous was the T.S.S. California that ran aground in 1914. Because of it’s remoteness many traditional singers have gone there to collect songs. There are few recordings of Tory Island singers as well. Notes: For those new to Irish Gaelic fh - is silent sh - makes only an h sound

A child asks if she can go to the fair but her mother doesn't want her to even ask because she is too young.

Apparently the whole countryside is gossiping about whether John James will actually marry the rich old woman.

Fair-haired Molly