BSW3 4. Songs of the area

Speaker: Patsy McNulty and a local farmer From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist. Local songs and ballads in the area are unfortunately very rare. As each day passes more and more ballad material will be lost as the old folks pass away with no-one to take up the tradition and keep it alive. People from the Mountcharles district remember with great affection the powerful singing of Jane Doherty, yet no one can sing her songs now. One has only to think of certain areas of Co. Clare, Co.Kerry or Co. Sligo where the song traditions thrive, to realise how much we have lost. When asked, local people will mention “such and such”, who died a few years ago or “old so and so” who is now in a nursing home and doesn’t sing anymore. Their songs – the few that come to mind – are remembered by title only. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could compile a collection of the words and music of local songs? As yet, we only have a few titles to go on: “The Woods of Bonnyglen”, “The Round-Up in Tamur”, “The Drowning of the Inver Fishermen”, “The Frosses Bell”, “Dysert Brae”, etc  The audio piece reflects the sentiment above. We never did get Michael McGrory's witty ditties or Eddie Gallagher's, who is referred to in the audio.