School: Inis Céin
- Location:
- Enniskean, Co. Cork
- Teacher: Conchobhar Ó Haodha
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0306, Page 211
Image and data © National Folklore Collection, UCD.
See copyright details.
DownloadOpen data
Available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
- XML School: Inis Céin
- XML Page 211
- XML “Ballad Singers”
Note: We will soon deprecate our XML Application Programming Interface and a new, comprehensive JSON API will be made available. Keep an eye on our website for further details.
On this page
- Ballad singers, both men and women visit the village rarely: these are very welcome as the people like to hear in fiery songs "the history of Erins past; her joys and griefs, the lives and ways and thoughts of scholars saints and chiefs". One ballad singer by name Mary O Connell visits us oftener than any other of her class; her age is about sixty five, she is of medium height, and she has a very uncivil appearance. She is a typical Irish ballad singer; she wears a black shawl and she is fond of a few pulls of the "dúideen" which she enjoys after a few pints of alcohol. Apart from her hot temper and her being addicted to strong drink, she is a fine singer. When singing a thrilling song she can express it in such vigorous tones that everyone's heart is inflamed with spirit. Then again when singing a pathetic song, she can express it in such tones of sympathy that everyone's heart is filled with sorrow. When she has the songs sung she goes into the public-house and disposes of her profit on strong liquid. Then when half drunk she is still more merry, and she sings more songs, and she is a source of great amusement to her companions. Her favourite songs are about Daniel O' Connell, Robert Emmet, The Dingle Puck goat, and Kelly of Killan.
- Collector
- Molly Hallahan
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Ardkitt West, Co. Cork
