Performers: McDonagh, Ann, singing in English A1-2, 4-10; speech in English A1-10; Kennedy, Liam, speech in English A1-10
Running Order: 1. Song The Galtee farmer 2. Song: The Galway shawl 3. Speech: Kilkenny street 4. Song: Molly Bawn [= Molly Bán] 5. Song: The farmer's boy 6. Song: The cliffs of Dooneen 7. Song: I've got a home down in Texas 8. Song: General Munroe [Melroe] 9. Song: As I went out of a may morning 10. Song: The town of Ballymoe
Nellie Walsh's handwritten index of songs included in 'Songs of your county', organised by county. There are four inserts taped into the book to add more songs to the index. There are numbers included next to each song or groups of songs that may refer to the issue or order in which she included them. Others have 'x's next to their names, perhaps indicating that she did not end up using that song in a column. Considering the completeness of this index, we can assume she kept it from the beginning to end of her column.
Nellie Walsh published a column in 'Ireland's own' entitled 'Songs of your county' from the mid 1960s to just before her death in the mid 1990s. 'Songs of your county' included the lyrics of songs tied to 32 counties across Ireland, and each column was often dedicated to one specific county, though many included features from multiple. In order to find these songs, Walsh compiled lyrics from across the Island from her own experience, but also received submissions from citizens of songs they had heard throughout their lives. Though published only as ballad sheets, many of the songs were submitted or noted in tonic sol-fa, and occaisonally with accompanying staff notation. The two sub-series in this series show the published 'Songs of your county' column, and the handwritten notes that show how Walsh constructed her column, divided by county.
My thousand times beloved = A mhile gradh, le mhile lá [song: music and words]; Golden locks are my delight = Cúl na subh [song: music and words]; The parting of friends [song: music and words] (air: Na Cumun); Marbhna Chearbhallain [song: words only]; Men of Connaught = Domhnall Meirgeach [song: music and words]; Moorlough Mary [song: music and words]; Sorrow of sorrows [song: music and words]; The red haired girl [song: music and words]; The gates of dreamland [song: music and words]; The foggy dew [song: music and words]; The thresher [song: music and words]; Dear dark head = Cean dubh deelish [song: music and words]; Pastheen Fionn = An Páistín Fionn [song: music and words]; Farewell my gentle harp [song: music and words]
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.
Handwritten, typescript, photocopied printed, and newspaper clippings of songs from Co. Wexford. It is no surprise that this is one of the larger collections, as Walsh was from Co. Wexford herself and the 'Ireland's own' magazine is published out of the same county. These are mostly lyric sheets, but several include tonic sol-fa or staff notation. Mostly transcribed by Nellie Walsh herself, but others sent to her or clipped from newspapers, and a few are printed leaflets with intricate headers. Some attached to letters addressed to Walsh.
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.
![Songs [sound recording] / Ann McDonagh ; Liam Kennedy. Track 2](/images/generic-icons/audio.png){kind=icon}