First musical tour hits the right notes
A musical tour exploring the history around ‘The Gorey Caravan’ song was launched last week by local traditional singer Rachel Uí Fhaoláin and North Wexford Traditional Singing Circle.
The free walking/bus tour called ‘Sean Nós Singing i nGuaire On Board The Gorey Caravan’ takes participants on a journey through Gorey, Pallas and Courtown. It includes singing, while also exploring the history around the Sean Nós song.
Rachel said they were delighted to have historian Willie Willoughby, Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin and Cllr Robbie Ireton take part in the first of these tours where they shared their knowledge of the song.
‘I plan on this being a reoccurring free event,’ added Rachel.
The Gorey Caravan was the name of a horsedrawn ‘long car’ which ran between Gorey and Courtown.
In the early 1900s two families, the Webbs and the Redmonds, were involved in running the long cars. The song ‘The Gorey Caravan’ tells the story of a man who falls for a young woman but despite his best efforts he fails to win her heart.
For the first tour everyone met at the car park beside Gorey Garda Station and they planted a Rowan tree to mark the beginning of the trip.
‘The North Wexford Traditional Singing Circle was delighted to donate three native Rowan trees to Gorey, Courtown and Riverchapel Tidy Towns,’ said Rachel.
After planting the tree they strolled along the old route of the Gorey Caravan to the Market House. Willie Willoughby shared his local knowledge on the building.
The tour group travelled by bus to Pallas where they sang and explored the history around another local song – ‘Eileanóir na Rún’.
‘We continued our journey to Courtown at the Gorey Caravan’s final stop and our donated trees were planted by Courtown Tidy Towns,’ said Rachel. ‘Riverchapel Tidy Towns also accepted a tree to mark this community event.’
The day concluded with a mighty traditional singing session in The Taravie Hotel.
An overall thank you went to those took part in the tour; Wexford County Council and Bliain na Gaeilge for their support; and local craftsman Christy Doyle.