Sunday 17 March 2013

Erin Go Bragh!

To celebrate Irish Heritage Day today, here's one of my most favourite Irish folk songs, Down by the Salley Gardens ("salley" means willow tree). The lyrics come from an 1889 poem by W.B. Yeats, the Irish poet, nationalist, playwright, mystic and 1923 Nobel Laureate for Literature. It's a short, two-verse poem of youthful love, loss and regret:



The poem was later set to a traditional Irish tune and has been recorded by innumerable singers. I particularly love this version by the great Irish singer Maura O'Connell:



I've enjoyed playing this song on my recorder ever since I was a kid. A lot of water has flowed past the salley gardens since then, but it remains a beautiful poem and song.

34 comments:

jaz@octoberfarm said...

this sure took me back to the days i lived in ireland!

mxtodis123 said...

Beautiful. Happy St. Patty's Day, my friend.
Mary

Introverted Art said...

William Butler Yeats is superb

Adam said...

nice

Snap said...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Thanks for the musical gift!

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

Wonderful post!

W.B. Yeats is amazing.

Rue said...

So beautiful. I could listen to Irish music all day! Tom Hiddleson's voice is not hard to listen to either. *sigh*

Happy Irish day to you!

fromsophiesview said...

Thank you so much, Debra!

Slainte!!

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Happy St. Paddy's to ya darling girl. As my Irish grandaw used to say....why the hell don't we celebrate this everyday?????? And being Irish.....he did. hahahahaha. Botttoms up on the green beer. Oma Linda

turquoisemoon said...

Go Green... Happy St Paddy's Day!

Magic Love Crow said...

Very beautiful! Happy St. Patrick's Day ;o)

Yvonne said...

I sure enjoyed this Debra. I love Irish tunes and Yeats poem is lovely put to music.

Yvonne said...

I'd like to share this on FB. Thanks.

Sulky Kitten said...

She has a beautiful voice. Slainte!

Anonymous said...

Happy St. Paddy's Day, this was lovely!

Mistress Maddie said...

I hope your having a great Saint Patricks Day Debs! I haven't heard that song in years! I should play it for my luncheon.

Birdie said...

┈▕▔▔▔▔▔▔▏┈╰╮Happy┈
▂▂▇▇┏▅┓▇▂▂╭╯┈St.┈┈
╲▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔╱╰╮Patrick's
╭▔▔▉▔▔▉▔▔╮┈╰╮Day┈
╭̸╭┳▔╭╮▔╮╮╮┈╭╯┈☘┈┈
╭̸╭╰━━━━▃▃▃▃▉┈┈┈☘┈
╭̸╭̸╭̸╭̷┓┏╮╮╮╮┈┈┈┈☘┈┈

Leanna said...

Happy Irish Heritage Day my dear.

May the wind at your back
not be the result
of the corned beef and cabbage
you had for lunch.

DEZMOND said...

lovely song, Debs, love me and adore me anything Irish! And I'm proud to have some devoted Irish sisters and brothers!

Cperz said...

I love Irish music. That was awesome. Happy Irish Heritage Day to ya!

Riot Kitty said...

Cheers! I'm partly Irish, among several other things. People in my family hopped the fence everywhere.

A Beer for the Shower said...

Loved the reading! However, I clicked the second video, and it said 'This video is currently unavailable.' What, is Youtube taking a smoke break right now?

Elsie Amata said...

This was beautiful. I stopped the reading to listen to the song and I loved it. I hope you enjoyed your St. Patrick's Day yesterday!

Doug Jamieson said...

Lovely! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Have you heard the Rankins do this song? OMG I just love it. Happy belated St. Patrick's day!

Southpaw said...

I hope your Paddy's Day was fantastic!

Elena said...

:) Hope you had a great one!

Deborah said...

DeLovely ♥♥♥

laughingwolf said...

:)

CraveCute said...

Youtube has been acting up! I love me an Irish ditty!

Jim said...

Lovely. Thanks so much for sharing this Debra.

The Dancing Crone said...

Oh Debra, how lovely...

DWei said...

Bluh, I wish I could have gone drinking on Sunday, but exam studying comes first. :(

yellowdoggranny said...

I love Irish Tenors and every time they have the round up of money on pbs they always have the Irish singers on...bands of them..and Irish dancers..nothing gets people to open up their wallets than the Irish dancers.