The genius of Wally Murphy part of the town’s history
QUITE a few songs have been written about Drogheda and its environs, but surely some of the best have come from the pen of one Wally Murphy.
The Boyne Fishermen, Under the Clock and Pitcher Hill - with the wonderful line, ‘Pitcher Hill we love you still, we always have, we always will...’ - are three iconic numbers that will have them dancing in the street come the Fleadh.
But before then, Wally’s songs, along with a series of other local classics, form part of a unqiue double album launch this Thursday, June 21 at the Droichead Arts Centre (8pm).
Louthlouthmusic present the event, marking it as the best of Drogheda traditional music and song.
The one and only Nicholas Carolan of the Irish Trad Music archive will launch it.
The night (admission €10) features a concert with Jim MacArdle, Donal Black, Eilis Quinn,Johnny Gray and Wally Murphy and the admission price includes a free album.
Jim MacArdle (pictured with Joe Ryan) , is truly one of the great stalwarts of the trad and folk scene in town down the decades, and has worked with the previously named crew to produce the two albums, namely ‘Much Blindin’ Down the Marsh’ and ‘Pitcher Hill’.
They feature everything great about the local scene, songs by Mary Ann Carolan from the Hill of Rath and the late and great Joe Ryan, the Clare fiddler who lived in Julianstown.
Paddy ‘Buckshot’ Buckley on the harmonica, Bill Murphy, who wrote ‘Much Blindin’, Brian Leahy and Tommy McArdle from Tallanstown also get a mention.
Much of the inspiration for albums like these came from the sessions in Carberry’s pub on the North Strand and Caitlin Bean Ui Chairbre’ influence.
Jim collected much of the material from bars and houses around the place and says that a great feature of Carberry’s in the past was the Sunday morning session when musicians would come from far and wide.
They’d have to finish at 2pm, but sometimes might go over it.v ‘‘ Tom Sullivan would say to me - if I don’t go home soon, I’ll meet the chicken coming down Laurence’s Gate!,’ Jim recalled.
The albums will be well suited to those that will arrive for the Fleadh come August and suffice to say - I hope Jim got plenty minted!