The Irish Rovers   •   Gracehill Fair

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  • Gracehill Fair
    • 2010 - Rover Records IRD2010 CD (CAN)
  • Tracklist
    1. Ireland Boys Hurrah (T. D. Sullivan, Arr. & Adapt. George Millar)
    2. Home to Bantry Bay (George Millar)
    3. The Dublin Pub Crawl (George Millar)
    4. The Boys of Killybegs (Tommy Makem)
    5. Pretty Susan The Pride of Molyclare (Arr. & Adapt. George Millar)
    6. Jigs (Trad. Arr. Wilcil McDowell)
      1. Trotting to Larne
      2. The Knotted Chord
      3. The Wise Maid
    7. The Lass with the Bonny Brown Hair (Music & New Words, George Millar)
    8. The Girls of Derry (George Millar)
    9. Let Him Go Let Him Tarry (Trad. Arr. & Adapt. George Millar)
    10. I'll Return (George Millar)
    11. Reels (Arr. Wilcil McDowell)
      1. Egan's Favorite
      2. The Dawn
    12. Drink, Sing and Be Jolly (George Millar)
    13. Gracehill Fair (George Millar)
    14. And the Sun It Still Rises (George Millar)

  • The Irish Rovers
    • George Millar: Guitar, Bouzouki & Vocals
    • Wilcil McDowell: Accordion
    • John Reynolds: Guitar, Bass & Vocals
    • Seán O'Driscoll: Banjo, Bouzouki, Mandolin & Vocals
    • Ian Millar: Guitar, Bass & Vocals
    • Fred Graham: Bodhran & Percussion
  • Guest Musicians
    • Patrick Davey: Irish Pipes, Flute & Whistle
    • Morris Crumb: Keyboards & Backup Vocals
    • Davy Sloan: Back Up Vocals
    • Joe Millar: Harmonica
    • Sheila Gary: Fiddle
    • Larry Egan: Button-Key Accordion
    • Geoffrey Kelly: Bodhrán
    • Billy Antrim: Heavy Drums & Spoons
  • Credits
    • Produced by George Millar For Rover Records
    • Engineered by Rick Salt
    • Mixed by George Millar & Rick Salt
    • Recorded at Island Pacific Studios, B.C. Canada & Emerald Studios, Templepatrick N. Ireland
    • Enineered at Emerald by George Doherty
    • Mastered by Rick Salt
    • Cover Artwork: Hamish Douglas Burgess
    • Photographs: Dee Lippingwell
    • Layout & Typing: Amy Millar

Sleeve Notes

A Word From Us To You

2010 has just arrived and here we are starting our 45th year as a band. Yes, we began at a young age — ten if I remember correctly! Wilcil and I are the two original members, while John Reynolds and Seán O'Driscoll have been singing and playing with us now for close to twenty years. Ian Millar and Fred Graham joined the Irish Rovers' family in 2006 and 2008, respectively. Ian's father, Joe Millar, a member of the band for forty years, kindly agreed to come out of retirement and play on the new CD. He appears courtesy of his golf club and local pub. We thank them both immensely. the CD cover and booklet cover were designed by Celtic artist Hamish Douglas Burgess who currently resides in that hot bed of Celtic traditions and music, — Maui. he also has a Celtic radio show every Sunday morning called funnily enough, "Maui Celtic". So dear fans, we once again thank you for your support throughout the years and hope you enjoy this latest collection of Irish Rover songs. some are old, some are new, but all are perfectly "dacent" to join in with.

Slainte,
George Millar, Nanoose Bay — January 2010


Ireland Boys Hurrah — Here's a good rollicking start with a song written in 1857 by T.D. Sullivan about Irish exiles in Canada.

Home to Bantry Bay — Ah there's no place like home, so they say and whoever they are they're right!

The Dublin Pub Crawl — This song is one of our new ones which we recently researched, strictly in the interest of medical science. Dublin, of course, is famous for many other things besides pubs, but for the life of me I can't think of any off the top of my head. Oh, and don't forget to join in - this is our sing-along.

The Boys of Killybegs — Killybegs is a neat little fishing port in Donegal and our old friend Tommy Makem wrote this song.

Pretty Susan The Pride of Moyclare — A love song from the County Offaly. Although a one-sided love affair our hero is reluctant to part ways.

Jigs — It's hard to sit still when you hear the music of Ireland - especially when Wilcil and Seán play it.

The Lass with The Bonny Brown Hair — The game of love can be a sorrowful tale, as this young lovestruck Irishman learned.

The Girls of Derry — Back in the days of the sail, the work was hard, and the days were long, and enjoyment was not a part of their vocabulary. When they returned to their home port after three months at sea, abstinence was not a part of their vocabulary.

Let Him Go Let Him Tarry — A music hall song from the early 1900s and one of the first "women s lib" songs.

I'll Return — Crossing the Atlantic was a dangerous undertaking for the early Irish immigrants bound for North America. The lucky ones who survived those arduous journeys never again returned to dear ould Ireland.

Reels — A slow reel from Seán, followed by a lively one - perfect for you to do a step or two around the room.

Drink, Sing and Be Jolly — Happy is the drinking man when the glass is full that's in his hand - drink up boys!

Gracehill Fair — Fairs in Ireland are as much a social gathering as they are a market. You'll find anything from livestock to fruits and vegetables to fine Irish linen. Now I can't guarantee that you'll find a wife like the young fellow in this song, but you'll enjoy yourself just the same.

And the Sun It Still Rises — Song for a lost love.