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Carrickfergus (song)

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254:. A cover of the song is also included on The McKrells' 2000 album "Hit The Ground Running". Dexys Midnight Runners released their version of the song on an album of Irish and Country songs, and closed their 2023 concert shows each night with it during the encore following their 1980 No. 1 hit Geno 175:
quarry which, he suggests, is the "Ballygran" mentioned in the lyrics. In contrast to the Ballingarry coal mines, Ballygrant quarry did indeed produce a "dark-grey to black marble" variant of Islay limestone, which was a primary source of employment for locals during the 18th and 19th centuries.
136:, published by George Petrie in 1855, contained an Irish-language song called "An Bhean Uasal" which featured many but not all of the sentiments used in Carrickfergus. Gogan also refers to a recording of a song called "Sweet Maggie Gordon" which is kept in the Music for the Nation section of the US 559: 140:. It was published by Mrs Pauline Lieder, in New York in 1880. It contains verses which are similar to Carrickfergus, but the chorus is closer to another Irish/Scottish folk song called "Peggy Gordon". 70:. In his book, "Ireland Sings" (London, 1965), Behan gives three verses, the first and third of which he says that he obtained from O'Toole and the middle one that he wrote himself. The 1964 album " 205:. Furthermore, the Russian singer-songwriter Aleksandr Karpov (a.k.a. "Aleksandr O'Karpov") translated the lyrics into Russian, recording a Russian version of "Carrickfergus", also titled 176:
O'Dowd suggests that, because of the centuries of travel between Ulster and Scotland, there is more of a connection between Carrickfergus and Islay than there is with Kilkenny.
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Robert Gogan suggests that Carrickfergus may have evolved from at least two separate songs, which would explain why it does not have a consistent narrative. For example, the
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The confusion between Kilmeny and Kilkenny could further derive from the fact that Kilkenny, Ireland does indeed produce a black marble "as black as ink."
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The song has been recorded by many well known performers. It is a popular request at folk festivals and concerts, and was played at the 1999 funeral of
329: 414: 654: 624: 547: 114:. Petrie wrote that he believed "Do Bhí Bean Uasal" came from either County Clare or County Limerick, and was in any case a Munster song. 129:, a bawdy and humorous ditty. By contrast, the English language lyrics are nostalgic, albeit with a slightly humorous twist at the end. 523: 894: 859:
Sheeran, Ed. "Galway Girl." Divide. By Ed Sheeran. Perf. Ed Sheeran. Recorded 2016. Producer(s) Mike Elizando, Ed Sheeran, 2017. CD
163:(2021) has compared the song to its Scottish equivalent "Over the Water", suggesting that the song may have originally referred to 463: 883: 747: 784: 475: 293: 798:
https://kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/OKR1948-14-Claire-Murphy-The-Kilkenny-Marble-Works.pdf
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The modern song is due to Dominic Behan, who published it in 1965. Behan relates that he learned the song from actor
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includes a song entitled "Carrickfergus (Do Bhí Bean Uasal)". The melody has been traced to an
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coal mines, so that the "marble...black as ink" in the lyrics would be a reference to coal.
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song, "Do Bhí Bean Uasal" ("There Was a Noblewoman"), which is attributed to the poet
743: 588: 348: 71: 47: 482: 470: 201: 67: 39: 898: 373: 160: 107: 630: 578: 518: 487: 423: 418: 368: 324: 278: 248:, who both did solo versions. Bryan Ferry also did a version on his 1978 album 79: 886: 878: 458: 910: 676: 612: 566: 494: 300: 245: 241: 51: 35: 31: 642: 530: 392: 364: 312: 87: 872: 835: 266: 554: 430: 336: 233: 229: 118: 111: 659: 506: 284: 262: 172: 27: 380: 237: 225: 99: 499: 149: 742:, M. H. Gill, Dublin, 1855 (re-printed 2005, University of Leeds, 152:; indeed the "Ballygran" referred to in the song may be the local 901: 126: 627:, on the album Письмо из бутылки (A letter from a bottle) (2012) 688: 666: 606:
Boardwalk Empire Volume 1: Music from the HBO Original Series
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An early version of the song appeared on a ballad sheet in
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obtained two settings of this melody from fellow collector
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Let The Record Show: Dexys Do Irish And Country Soul
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Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul
836:"Александр О'Карпов | Песни и стихи | Каррикфергус" 892:Partial listing of lyrics with history as well at 908: 281:, as Carrickfergus, Live in Ireland, RTE#1 show 125:form. The Irish lyrics were about a man being 705:(a.k.a. Dexys Midnight Runners) on the album 560:Scarborough Fair-Songs from the British Isles 206: 902:TripSavvy now Dotdash Co, formerly About.Com 774:, Royal Society of Edinburgh (1983), p. 623. 217:- "Beyond the blue sea, beyond the ocean"). 884:Useful Discussion of history of the song at 879:Seán Ó Sé's rendition of Do Bhí Bean Uasal 195:over the closing credits of an episode of 524:Live from Dublin: A Tribute to Derek Bell 810:"HBO: Boardwalk Empire: S 1 EP 5: Music" 191:The song was more recently performed by 909: 734: 732: 272: 257:The song is referenced in the song " 13: 812:. 26 December 2015. Archived from 729: 171:. Kilmeny is a hamlet next to the 14: 933: 866: 433:, perform it in the Film 4 Movie 121:in the mid-nineteenth century in 294:Joe Dassin (Les Champs-Élysées) 182: 853: 828: 802: 791: 777: 765: 753: 720: 213: 1: 713: 106:, on the borders of counties 289:Mon village du bout du monde 261:", written and performed by 208:"За синим морем, за океаном" 148:The story seems to surround 84:Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna 7: 536:Celtic Woman: A New Journey 143: 10: 938: 585:Series 4, episode 5 (2009) 236:and two former members of 214:Za sinim morem, za okeanom 167:on the Scottish island of 159:Irish-American journalist 61: 30:, named after the town of 875:— Carrickfergus (Excerpt) 760:50 Great Irish Love Songs 398:Van Morrison: The Concert 207: 740:Ancient Music of Ireland 318:The Town I Loved So Well 134:Ancient Music of Ireland 342:The Bride Stripped Bare 251:The Bride Stripped Bare 583:Transatlantic Sessions 543:Irish Stew of Sindidun 351:, with main vocals by 86:, who died in 1756 in 762:. Music Ireland, 2008 601:Loudon Wainwright III 193:Loudon Wainwright III 46:' 1964 album titled " 922:Year of song unknown 581:, on BBC television 442:Michael Winterbottom 189:John F. Kennedy, Jr. 104:Ballyhoura Mountains 897:9 June 2021 at the 816:on 26 December 2015 772:Biological sciences 618:Celtic Lady, Vol. 1 572:Songs For My Mother 436:With or Without You 265:on his 2017 album " 138:Library of Congress 76:The Clancy Brothers 693:Sibéal Ní Chasaide 648:Songs from Ireland 386:Speaking of Dreams 273:List of recordings 98:. Joyce came from 90:. Music collector 748:978-1-85918-398-4 682:A Different Stage 589:Katherine Jenkins 464:The Water Is Wide 349:Loreena McKennitt 222:The Water is Wide 72:The First Hurrah! 48:The First Hurrah! 929: 917:Irish folk songs 860: 857: 851: 850: 848: 846: 832: 826: 825: 823: 821: 806: 800: 795: 789: 788: 787:. 9 August 2021. 781: 775: 769: 763: 757: 751: 736: 727: 724: 636:Twice Told Tales 483:Declan Galbraith 471:Charlotte Church 449:Harry O'Donoghue 405:Danny O'Flaherty 216: 215: 210: 209: 202:Boardwalk Empire 54:on an LP called 40:Northern Ireland 937: 936: 932: 931: 930: 928: 927: 926: 907: 906: 899:Wayback Machine 869: 864: 863: 858: 854: 844: 842: 834: 833: 829: 819: 817: 808: 807: 803: 796: 792: 783: 782: 778: 770: 766: 758: 754: 738:George Petrie: 737: 730: 725: 721: 716: 695:, on the album 679:, on the album 669:, on the album 657:, on the album 645:, on the album 633:, on the album 615:, on the album 603:, on the album 591:, on the album 569:, on the album 557:, on the album 545:, on the album 533:, on the album 521:, on the album 509:, on the album 497:, on the album 485:, on the album 473:, on the album 461:, on the album 451:, on the album 407:, on the album 395:, on the album 383:, on the album 374:Irish Heartbeat 371:, on the album 355:, on the album 339:, on the album 327:, on the album 315:, on the album 303:, on the album 275: 185: 146: 64: 56:The Irish Rover 44:Clancy Brothers 17: 16:Irish folk song 12: 11: 5: 935: 925: 924: 919: 905: 904: 889: 881: 876: 868: 867:External links 865: 862: 861: 852: 840:karpov.hole.ru 827: 801: 790: 776: 764: 752: 728: 718: 717: 715: 712: 711: 710: 700: 697:Enchanted Isle 686: 674: 664: 652: 640: 631:10,000 Maniacs 628: 622: 610: 598: 586: 579:Allison Moorer 576: 564: 552: 540: 528: 519:The Chieftains 516: 504: 492: 488:Declan (album) 480: 468: 456: 446: 428: 424:Feet of Flames 419:Ronan Hardiman 412: 402: 390: 378: 369:The Chieftains 362: 346: 334: 325:Five Hand Reel 322: 310: 298: 282: 279:Dermot Kennedy 274: 271: 184: 181: 145: 142: 80:Irish-language 63: 60: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 934: 923: 920: 918: 915: 914: 912: 903: 900: 896: 893: 890: 888: 885: 882: 880: 877: 874: 873:Brian Kennedy 871: 870: 856: 841: 837: 831: 815: 811: 805: 799: 794: 786: 780: 773: 768: 761: 756: 749: 745: 741: 735: 733: 723: 719: 708: 704: 701: 698: 694: 690: 687: 684: 683: 678: 677:Jason Manford 675: 672: 668: 665: 662: 661: 656: 653: 650: 649: 644: 641: 638: 637: 632: 629: 626: 623: 620: 619: 614: 613:Donna Taggart 611: 608: 607: 602: 599: 596: 595: 590: 587: 584: 580: 577: 574: 573: 568: 567:Ronan Keating 565: 562: 561: 556: 553: 550: 549: 548:Dare to Dream 544: 541: 538: 537: 532: 529: 526: 525: 520: 517: 514: 513: 508: 505: 502: 501: 496: 495:The Dubliners 493: 490: 489: 484: 481: 478: 477: 472: 469: 466: 465: 460: 457: 454: 453:Live and Well 450: 447: 444: 443: 438: 437: 432: 429: 426: 425: 421:on the album 420: 416: 413: 410: 406: 403: 400: 399: 394: 391: 388: 387: 382: 379: 376: 375: 370: 366: 363: 360: 359: 354: 350: 347: 344: 343: 338: 335: 332: 331: 326: 323: 320: 319: 314: 311: 308: 307: 302: 301:The Dubliners 299: 296: 295: 291:on the album 290: 286: 283: 280: 277: 276: 270: 268: 264: 260: 255: 253: 252: 247: 246:Chris Hillman 243: 242:Roger Mcguinn 239: 235: 231: 227: 223: 218: 204: 203: 198: 194: 190: 180: 177: 174: 170: 166: 162: 157: 155: 151: 141: 139: 135: 130: 128: 124: 120: 115: 113: 109: 105: 101: 97: 96:Patrick Joyce 93: 92:George Petrie 89: 85: 81: 77: 73: 69: 68:Peter O'Toole 59: 57: 53: 52:Dominic Behan 49: 45: 41: 37: 36:County Antrim 33: 32:Carrickfergus 29: 26: 22: 21:Carrickfergus 855: 845:11 September 843:. Retrieved 839: 830: 818:. Retrieved 814:the original 804: 793: 779: 771: 767: 759: 755: 739: 722: 706: 696: 680: 670: 658: 646: 643:Damien Leith 634: 616: 604: 592: 582: 570: 558: 546: 534: 531:Celtic Woman 522: 510: 498: 486: 474: 462: 452: 440: 439:Directed by 434: 422: 415:Anne Buckley 408: 396: 393:Van Morrison 384: 372: 365:Van Morrison 356: 353:Cedric Smith 340: 328: 316: 313:Paddy Reilly 304: 292: 288: 256: 249: 219: 200: 186: 183:Performances 178: 164: 161:Niall O'Dowd 158: 147: 133: 131: 116: 88:County Clare 65: 55: 20: 18: 887:Mudcat Café 655:By Toutatis 555:Bryn Terfel 476:Enchantment 459:Órla Fallon 337:Bryan Ferry 330:For A' That 259:Galway Girl 234:The Seekers 230:Pete Seeger 154:Ballingarry 58:, in 1965. 911:Categories 714:References 660:The Beasts 625:Green Crow 507:Lisa Kelly 285:Joe Dassin 263:Ed Sheeran 220:The song " 199:'s series 173:Ballygrant 100:Ballyorgan 381:Joan Baez 358:Elemental 238:The Byrds 226:Bob Dylan 127:cuckolded 123:macaronic 119:Cork City 28:folk song 895:Archived 594:Daydream 500:40 Years 409:Remember 150:Kilkenny 144:Kilkenny 108:Limerick 23:" is an 820:29 July 165:Kilmeny 102:in the 62:Origins 42:. The 746:  699:(2019) 689:Voces8 685:(2017) 673:(2016) 663:(2015) 651:(2015) 639:(2015) 621:(2011) 609:(2011) 597:(2011) 575:(2009) 563:(2008) 551:(2008) 539:(2007) 527:(2005) 515:(2003) 503:(2002) 491:(2002) 479:(2001) 467:(2000) 455:(2000) 445:(1999) 427:(1999) 411:(1997) 401:(1990) 389:(1989) 377:(1988) 361:(1985) 345:(1979) 333:(1977) 321:(1975) 309:(1975) 297:(1969) 267:Divide 703:Dexys 667:Dexys 287:, as 169:Islay 74:" by 25:Irish 847:2016 822:2021 744:ISBN 691:and 512:Lisa 431:Neck 417:and 367:and 244:and 112:Cork 110:and 306:Now 269:". 197:HBO 38:, 34:in 913:: 838:. 731:^ 240:, 232:, 228:, 849:. 824:. 750:) 709:. 211:( 19:"

Index

Irish
folk song
Carrickfergus
County Antrim
Northern Ireland
Clancy Brothers
The First Hurrah!
Dominic Behan
Peter O'Toole
The First Hurrah!
The Clancy Brothers
Irish-language
Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna
County Clare
George Petrie
Patrick Joyce
Ballyorgan
Ballyhoura Mountains
Limerick
Cork
Cork City
macaronic
cuckolded
Library of Congress
Kilkenny
Ballingarry
Niall O'Dowd
Islay
Ballygrant
John F. Kennedy, Jr.

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