Barleycorn   •   The International (IRL)

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  • The International
    • 1989 - Dolphin DOLX 9011 Cassette (IRL)
  • Side One
    1. Boys of Killybegs (T. Makem)
    2. Garden Song (D. Mallet)
    3. Irish Rover
    4. Maggie
    5. Reels:
      1. The Star of Munster
      2. The Wise Maid
      3. The Hare's Foot
    6. Far Away In Australia
    7. If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
  • Side Two
    1. Whiskey In The Jar
    2. Gypsy Rover (Leo Maguire)
    3. Wild Colonial Boy
    4. Danny Boy
    5. Black Velvet Band
    6. Flight Of Earls (Liam Reilly)

  • The Barleycorn
    • Derek McCormick: Vocals, Guitar & Bass
    • John Delaney: Banjos, Mandolin, Guitar & Vocals
    • Dennis O'Rourke: Vocals, Fiddle & Guitar
  • Credits
    • Produced & arranged: The Barleycorn
    • Mixed: John Delaney
    • Engineer: Catherine Considine
    • Assistant: Declan Murray
    • Recorded at Lansdowne Studios Dublin
    • All tracks Trad. Arr. The Barleycorn, unless otherwise noted.
    • Sleeve Design: Joe Kelly

Sleeve Notes

Barleycorn are one of the best known entertainment groups on the Irish music scene, regularly performing at venues throughout the country, singing songs and playing the music which have not only brought them great acclaim in their own country but also in many other parts of the world. In the last twelve months they have been in Australia twice, the U.K. three times and in the U.S.A. once and the release of this album coincides with the start of another Australian tour.

The lads performed two engagements at what was described as the premier event of Australia's Bicentennial Year, the 'WORLD EXPO', in Brisbane and in between managed to fit in a few weeks in Ireland and several concerts including the, 'MILWAUKEE IRISH FEST, in the U.S.A., wherever they go they enjoy themselves and love to involve their audiences in a bit of light hearted fun and singing.


BOYS OF KILLYBEGS
Killybegs is a fishing port on the beautiful rugged north west coast of Ireland where the long traditions of seafaring are handed down from father to son and the magnetism of the sea makes the Atlantic Ocean the work place for many who love the challenge of living the tough life in close quarters with the ever changing face of nature and always in the hope of a good 'catch'.

GARDEN SONG
This a light hearted song which gets away from the hustle of modern day living and back to more relaxing pursuits in the garden and the idea of a self-sufficient life style.

IRISH ROVER
The story of the amazing crew on board a wonderful ship called the, 'IRISH ROVER', and their exciting voyage from Cork to New York in the year 1806, it is vaguely possible that the song exaggerates the truth slightly.

MAGGIE
A beautiful old song of romance and reminiscence.

REELS
Three lively tunes called, The Star of Munster, The Wise Maid and The Hare's Foot.

FAR AWAY IN AUSTRALIA
This song tells the story of one of the many pioneering immigrants in years gone by who left Ireland for a new life in Australia, leaving behind his girl friend until he built a home and settled and of her longing for the day the letter would arrive telling her to come and join him.

IF WE ONLY HAD OLD IRELAND OVER HERE
The best of us get home-sick from time to time and what better than to sing about it, this song is one for the Irish in Australia.

WHISKEY IN THE JAR
A rollicking song of a roving blade who relieved one of the military gentry of some money he had probably extracted from the local people, mixed in with some love, betrayal and then unfortunate downfall, good ingredients for a rip roaring' sing-along and a bit of fun.

GYPSY ROVER
People are not always who you think they are and love is not bought; this song embraces both ideas to end up happily ever after.

WILD COLONIAL BOY
The legend of Jack Duggan an Irish-Australian who robbed the rich to help the poor but got caught and was shot.

DANNY BOY
Probably the best known and loved Irish song throughout the world.

BLACK VELVET BAND
It's not always the lads that get the girls in trouble, the lady in this story used her gentleman friend as a scapegoat and got him a free passage to Van Diemens Land, (deported), for seven years penal servitude, an old Belfast song.

FLIGHT OF EARLS
Young people are the best asset of any country and unfortunately in the pages of Ireland's history they have regularly had to go abroad to find employment, a fact which causes sadness for many who live in the hope of one day returning when things improve. The title is taken from an historical event called, The Flight of Earls, when many well educated people had to flee from Ireland to save themselves from a different fate.