Kilmuckridge Song Tours are putting the village on the map
People of all ages turned up on Sunday in Kilmuckridge village for the first of two Song Tours being presented by singers Aileen Lambert and John Furlong.
The innovative way to engage with local traditional song heritage has so far been a success for Aileen and John, who are visiting historical sites that are connected to the songs.
The group first gathered outside the Ranson House in Kilmuckridge where Mary Farrell was first up to sing ‘The Kilmuckridge Hunt’, a comic song written by Shay Healy.
The troupe then arranged some carpooling and headed south to Ballyvaloo Graveyard where John Furlong performed the song ‘Father Nicholas Stafford’, about a 1798 priest who’s final resting place is Ballyvaloo Graveyard. Paul Tobin then entertained with the song ‘The Curracloe Boat Race’ which gives an account of an event that occurred as far back as 1827. The race started in Blackwater and turned at a place known as the Brook at Ballyvaloo.
Senan Lillis then sang ‘The Nigglers of Ballyvaloo’, a song from the mid 19th century which recounts the antics of a group of young men as they travel from Ballyvaloo to Blackwater.
The tour then headed back towards Kilmuckridge to Peg and Laurence O’Connor’s in Ballinahask. They brought the participants across fields to the site of the house in which local hero and World Champion weight-thrower John Mangan used to live over a hundred years ago. Colm Brennan treated participants to a song called ‘John Mangan’, which was written by the local 1916 leader Séan Etchingham. After, John Furlong followed with a song he wrote about The Ton Team, the famous Tug o’ War Team from the locality, which John Mangan was a member.
Song tour coordinator Aileen Lambert then performed a song entitled ‘The Hills of Christnastow’. This was in fact written as a poem by Myles O’Connor and had been put to a traditional air as part of The Kilmuckridge Song Project which Aileen facilitated last winter. These very hills overlooked the field in which participants listened to the song.
The final stop was Morriscastle and Mick Doyle from Gorey sang ‘The Gorey Caravan’, Aileen Lambert sang ‘The Harbour’ (a poem by Winifred M Lett put to an original air) and John Furlong led the group in singing his own well-known composition ‘Carrig Rua’.
Organisers Aileen Lambert and Sam Paya of Kilmuckridge Tidy Towns hope to be blessed with the same fine weather for the second and final tour, which takes place on Sunday, September 23, at 1 p.m. All are welcome, just turn up outside Corrigans, Kilmuckridge, and be prepared for an interesting and entertaining afternoon. The project was supported by Kilmuckridge Tidy Towns, The Heritage Council and presented as part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
The songs presented on the day are all featured in a book entitled ‘Songs of Kilmuckridge, and beyond…’, which was compiled and produced as part of a project which Aileen Lambert facilitated last winter with the support of Wexford Arts Department and Kilmuckridge Tidy Towns.
The book is just €5 or book with dvd is €10. For further information on the next tour or to purchase a copy contact Aileen on 087 7552593.