| Ref No | MS 4000/5/1/5/1 |
| Title | Sound recording of Joe Heaney (1919-1984) singing traditional Gaelic songs and talking about the history of Ireland and different forms and styles of singing |
| Level | File |
| Date | 18 December 1963 |
| Description | Recording of interview by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger of Joe Heaney.
CD-R 1 of 2
Track 1: Duration (min/sec): 3.23 Description of track: talks about Irish emigration and travelling way of life and richness of song; gaelic word for travellers 'bacaigh'
Track 2: Duration (min/sec): 5.49 Description of track: JH sings 'Scibberaan' (in Gaelic) about Irish emigration
Track 3: Duration (min/sec): 5.53 Description of track: JH gives history of the song of a man being thrown of f his land by a landlord; he clarifies details: Scibberaan is the name of place in Kerry; the song refers to year '98' and means 1798 and refers to the 'Queen' which is Victoria; Irish emigration going on since time of Cromwell long before potato famine
Track 4: Duration (min/sec): 5.36 Description of track: JH sings 'Traigh Bhan Curragh' (in Gaelic) an Irish woman emigration song
Track 5: Duration (min/sec): 1.22 Description of track: explains the meaning of 'Traigh Bhan Curragh' the above song; talks of an English emigration song 'The Widow from Mayo' at the time of Captain Boycott in Mayo after the 1798 rising
Track 6: Duration (min/sec): 5.14 Description of track: JH sings 'The Widow from Mayo'
Track 7: Duration (min/sec): 2.16 Description of track: talks a little about 'The Widow of Mayo' and talks about next song 'Ned of the Hill'
Track 8: Duration (min/sec): 7.48 Description of track: JH sings 'Ned of the Hill' (in Gaelic)
Total duration: (min/sec): 37.21
CD-R 2 of 2
Track 1: Duration (min/sec): 3.03 Description of track: JH talks about the song 'Ned of the Hill'; talks about John Mitchell a journalist for the United Irishman 'printed under the counter' one of the men transported to Van Diemens Land; indicative of the persecution at that time in Ireland
Track 2: Duration (min/sec): 4.31 Description of track: JH sings 'John Mitchell'
Track 3: Duration (min/sec): 6.19 Description of track: JH explains the meaning of the song and the fate of John Mitchell; the United Irishman started in 1842 (3 years before the famine); talks about the importance for him of knowing the facts and story behind the songs he sings; tells story in 1700s of Oona MCD ermott and 'Strong' Thomas Costello before singing below
Track 4: Duration (min/sec): 4.03 Description of track: JH sings 'Lament for Fair Haired Oona' (in Gaelic)
Track 5: Duration (min/sec): 3.42 Description of track: refers the 'Lament' and gaelic spelling of her name Una Bhan; introduces next song 'Droighnean Donn' (Gaelic) or 'Brown Thorn Bush' (English)
Track 6: Duration (min/sec): 7.40 Description of track: JH sings 'Droighnean Donn' (in Gaelic) or 'Brown Thorn Bush' (English) and sings in both Gaelic and English
Track 7: Duration (min/sec): 3.31 Description of track: discuss relationship between English and Gaelic verses and the song in detail; introduces a Gaelic lullaby before singing below
Track 8: Duration (min/sec): 2.33 Description of track: JH sings 'Sc?irn Sco
Track 9: Duration (min/sec): 2.04 Description of track: JH talks about his family history and background; family of fishermen from Carna, west of Ireland; one of seven children
Total duration: (min/sec): 37.26 |
| Related Material | See MS 4000/2/104 for written documentation on 'The Song Carriers' and MS 4000/5/1/11/38 for recording of one of 'The Song Carriers' radio programmes introduced by Ewan MacColl
see recordings at MS 4000/5/2/2/3 and MS 4000/5/2/3/1 of Joe Heaney |
| Physical Description | Listening copies: 2 x CD-R serial numbers
CD-R 1 of 2: PF235 S108 5574
CD-R 2 of 2: KF228 U103 2774
Original tape:
Size: 7" tape reel
Gauge: 1/4" tape (0.625cm)
Speed: 7.5ips (19cm/s);
EQ Curve used: IEC
Track configuration: Half Track Mono
Dubbing Date: 12/02 |
| Access Status | Open |
| Language | English |