
Another scratchy recording from the LP "Mo Cheol Thú" This song was widely sung in Munster in the early decades of the 19th century. The song was originally written by an Augustinian friar, the Reverend William English of Newcastle West, Co. Limerick who previous to his taking the Augustinian habit had produced many beautiful songs in Irish. "The people of the village had turned out on a sunny day in June to `foot' the half dry turf in the bog at the back of Seefin mountain which rises straight over Glenosheen; always a joyous occasion for us children. Dinner time came -- about 1 o'clock: each family spread the white cloth on a chosen spot on the dry clean bog surface. There might have been half a dozen groups in that part of the bog, all near each other, and they all sat down to dinner at the same time: glorious smoking hot floury savoury potatoes, salt herrings (hot like the potatoes) and good wholesome blathach, ie skimmed thick milk slightly and pleasantly sour -- a dinner fit for a hungry king, After dinner there was always a short interval for rest and diversion -- generally rough joyous romping. On this occasion the people with one accord asked Peggy Moynihan to sing them a song. Peggy was a splendid girl, noted for her singing and down she sat willingly on a turf bank ... and she gave us the `Clár Bog Déíl' in Irish, with intense passion, while the people, old and young listened, mute and spellbound." PW Joyce LYRICS Phósfainn thú gan bó, gan punt, gan áireamh <b>...</b>
Irish
Tradition
An
Clar
Bog
Deil
Caiseal
Mumhan
Julie
Mulvihil
Celtic
Celtique
UISTMAN
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