Bound music manuscript books with handwritten sheet music collected by Nellie Walsh. Written in staff notation with lyrics, each song titled and titles collected in an index on the paper front cover of the book. Several have lyric sheets or staff notation inserted, so not all are well bound together.
Typescript programmes, scripts, song lists, and notes, including the script from Nellie Walsh's appearance singing on a radio show on 29 April 1957, several drafts of a write-up on collecting folk songs, and a 24 page booklet of poems and songs that were 'The subject of a lecture given by Mr. Seamus Murphy in November, 1981."
Handwritten letters to and from Nellie Walsh, largely but not exclusively related to Irish traditional music, including her 'Ireland's own' column and her singing career. Some letters include requests for songs and submissions of songs, but are unattached to those songs. The earliest letter in this collection has '1895' handwritten later at the top, and addressed to Mrs. Margaret O'Nauralean (?).
Songs, newspaper clippings, and editorials about the tune 'The Londonderry air,' including a list of songs set to the air, letters from Nellie Walsh and letters responding to her request for information about the tune, several packets of sheet music in staff notation for songs composed to the air, and a collection of materials about its most famous interpretation, 'Danny boy.' Several of these are duplicates or photocopies of each other.
Even before she began writing her 'Songs of your county' column, Nellie Walsh was an avid collector of traditional music. This collection includes lyric sheets, tonic sol-fa, and staff notation made up of handwritten sheets, many photocopies, newspaper clippings, and two booklets of songs. The handwritten selections are largely on the back of envelopes, notes, letters, postcards, and many are on the back of Old Wexford Society minutes/memos, for which Walsh was Honorary Secretary. There is even one on the back of a photograph and one on the back of a pastry bag. These are largely Irish songs (and a few are even in Irish), but also includes Scottish, Austrian, American, and English traditional music. In additon to the songs, there are also letters asking if Nellie could identify songs (including a letter to Patrick Gallagher from the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts in 1985, Raymond Flynn), notes for herself on ballad history, performance lists, and a map of Lambay.
Thirteen newspaper clippings containing stories about people from Walsh's home county, Co. Wexford. Newspaper titles and dates have been cut out, but there is a handwritten 'Wexford people' title and the date 23 January 1976 in Walsh's hand at the top of one of the clippings. These are stories, legends, and songs from the county.
Handwritten, typescript, and photocopied printed songs from Co. Westmeath, mostly lyric sheets but one contains tonic sol-fa. Several of these are written by John Nestor and composed by Bobby O'Driscoll. Mostly transcribed by Nellie Walsh herself, but others sent to her or clipped from newspapers. Some attached to letters addressed to Walsh.
Sheet music in staff notation, mostly handwritten onto music manuscript paper, but also contains printed or photocopied printed material. Several songs have lyric sheets or tonic sol-fa attached. These are undated but considering the format may have been used for her choral performances.
Handwritten, typescript, photocopied printed, and newspaper clippings of song lyric sheets from Co. Waterford. On one song is written "Tipp or Waterford," indicated it could be from either Tipperary or Waterford. Mostly transcribed by Nellie Walsh herself, but others sent to her or clipped from newspapers. Some attached to letters addressed to Walsh. Many of the songs in this file are signed by or attached to a note signed by Roger Power and one packet of poems from two separate letters sent by Patrick Gallagher.
Handwritten, typescript, and newspaper clippings of songs from Co. Wicklow. These are mostly lyric sheets, but several include tonic sol-fa. Mostly transcribed by Nellie Walsh herself, but others sent to her or clipped from newspapers. Some attached to letters addressed to Walsh.
