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Sleeve Notes
"P" Stands for Paddy — This song was written in recent years largely influenced by a song called the "Verdant Braes Of Screen". I first heard it from Derryman, Jim McFarland.
The Heather Breeze; The Yellow Tinker — We collected the 3 rd part of the 1 st reel from Peter McQuellan, a humourous Banjo player from Clones. The Yellow Tinker, Dinny collected in Inishowen.
The Green Fields Of America — The poor conditions and low standard of living have driven many an Irishman to voluntary exile through emigration. Often, as is the case here, the promised land is America. I collected this version from John Lyons, Co. Clare, although the song appears to have originally been a Donegal one.
Banish Misfortune; The Fermoy Lasses; The Chair Against The Door — A favourite Northern jig with two reels that tell a story of their own. The second reel is also known as Geehans, but Dinny will explain the “Chair Against the Door” when asked!
Banks of the Bann — Again a love song, this time of Ulster background with an immigrant or planter as the fortunate lover.
Bold Seán And The Tinker — A friend of Dinnys, a Buncrana man, gave me this song, and gives fair warning to any Donegal man looking for work in Scotland to keep a canny eye in his head—as if he wouldn't!
Paddy Ryan's Dream; The Dublin Lasses — These two reels are dedicated to Liam "Curley" Coyle who was the original banjo player with the group. The second reel is sometimes called "The Boys of Ballisodare" but the group has a "thing" about "Lasses"!
The Bold Tenant Farmer; The Nine Points Of Roguery — Here we have a light hearted glance at an imaginative incident involving a landlord's son and the more than able wife of a tenant farmer. A case of receiving his just deserts.
The Friendly Visit /The Cup Of Tea — For any friendly visit there is always a Cup of Tea. You can't have one without the other.
The Lakes of Coolfin — A song which can be traced back to the 17th Century with origins in Limerick, tells of the tragic loss of Willie Leonard.
Four Drunken Nights — This song is similar in content but not in style to the "seven nighted" version made famous by The Dubliners some years ago.
Bunch Of Thyme — An English folk song of love. Here we have a lament from a young who realizes only too late that she has been taken in by a false lover.
Jigs Of Aileach II — Whelan's Jig, "The Little House 'Round the Corner" and "Tripping up the Stairs" make up this selection. Dinny learned the second jig from Pat Mulhern, Falask, Buncrana.
© 1977