traveller boy singing on pony

Parents of boy, 12, who took his own life over constant bullying tell of their heartbreak

The story of Patrick McDonagh is the subject of the documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which airs tonight

• 10:12, 27 NOV 2023

The parents of a 12-year-old Traveller boy who took his own life over constant bullying said they were completely unaware of what was happening until it was too late.

The story of Patrick McDonagh is the subject of the documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which airs tonight.

The programme aims to shine a light on the high suicide rates among Irish Travellers, which is seven times greater than the settled community.

READ MORE: Irish tourist dies after plunging into river from bridge in Spain

Patrick, from Finglas, North Dublin, died a year ago and the film follows his parents, Michelle and Pat, as they come to terms with their loss.

In sharing their harrowing personal story, his family’s hope is to inspire other people to speak up and ask for help.

Mum Michelle Ward said: “I remember when he was born. “He was the most beautiful little boy that was ever brought into this world.

“He was always clever. He loved English. He loved Irish. He knew everything about science. He loved fixing bikes. I just can’t believe he left the world the way he did. I just thought he was so happy. He showed no signs.”

Dad Pat said the family were unaware how badly his son was being targeted until after his death.

He added: “My little boy didn’t tell us anything. I mean, secrets he took it to the grave. God rest him. We never expected Patrick to do what he done.

“I’m no good with phones — that’s the reason why we didn’t pass any notice of the phones. But when he passed away, we started taking notice of the phones and started realising it was the phone.

“It was a poxy phone. He was hiding stuff where he was being bullied.

“He never told us deep down inside, the mental torture. God knows what he was going through.”

Michelle said: “He deleted everything off his phone before he passed away.

“Deleted his Snapchat. His TikTok. I couldn’t figure out why he deleted all of them, you know? We didn’t know what he was going through until the end, until people came and told us, little friends of Patrick’s came up and told us bits and pieces like we didn’t know.”

President Michael D Higgins has called for the programme, which features insights from Senator Eileen Flynn and Bernie Power, to be shown in schools and watched by everyone in the country. He said:

“What an honour it was to attend an advance screening of Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost.

“Even though I am familiar with the issues with which the Travelling community struggle, the personal testimonies of Patrick McDonagh’s parents, and Bernie Power moved me in a way I find difficult to describe.

“It would be so valuable if all members of the public could see this film, which describes a life lost to bullying.

“An incredibly talented boy, interested in all aspects of life and full of curiosity, within one year had his life destroyed. There are so many reasons I could think of why this film should be seen in every household and it would be just incredibly valuable if it were seen in every school.”

■Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost will be broadcast tonight at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.

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Young Dublin boy took own life due to constant bullying

The story of Patrick McDonagh is the subject of the documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which aims to shine a light on the high suicide rates among Irish Travellers

• 06:00, 27 NOV 2023

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The family of a 12-year-old Traveller boy who took his own life over constant bullying have told how they were completely unaware of what was happening until it was too late.

The story of Patrick McDonagh is the subject of the documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which airs tonight.

The programme aims to shine a light on the high suicide rates among Irish Travellers, which is seven times greater than the settled community.

Read more: Temple Bar business owner receives kind gesture after rioters destroy shopfront

Read more: Fundraiser launch to help businesses damaged during Dublin riots

Patrick, from Finglas, North Dublin , died a year ago and the film follows his parents, Michelle and Pat, as they come to terms with their loss.

In sharing their harrowing personal story, his family’s hope is to inspire other people to speak up and ask for help. Mum Michelle Ward said: “I remember when he was born.

“He was the most beautiful little boy that was ever brought into this world.

“He was always clever. He loved English. He loved Irish.

“He knew everything about science. He loved fixing bikes. He’d take a bike apart and put it together in seconds.

“I just can’t believe he left the world the way he did. I just thought he was so happy. He showed no signs.”

Dad Pat said the family were unaware how badly his son was being targeted until after his death.

He added: “My little boy didn’t tell us anything. I mean, secrets he took it to the grave.

“God rest him. We never expected Patrick to do what he done.

“I’m no good with phones – that’s the reason why we didn’t pass any notice of the phones.

“But when he passed away, we started taking notice of the phones and started realising it was the phone.

“It was a poxy phone. He was hiding stuff where he was being bullied.

“He never told us deep down inside, the mental torture. God knows what he was going through.”

Michelle said: “He deleted everything off his phone before he passed away.

“Deleted his Snapchat. His TikTok. I couldn’t figure out why he deleted all of them, you know? We didn’t know what he was going through until the end, until people came and told us, little friends of Patrick’s came up and told us bits and pieces like we didn’t know.”

President Michael D Higgins has called for the programme, which features insights from Senator Eileen Flynn and Bernie Power, to be shown in schools and watched by everyone in the country. He said: “What an honour it was to attend an advance screening of Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost.

“Even though I am familiar with the issues with which the Travelling community struggle, the personal testimonies of Patrick McDonagh’s parents, and Bernie Power moved me in a way I find difficult to describe.

“It would be so valuable if all members of the public could see this film, which describes a life lost to bullying.

“An incredibly talented boy, interested in all aspects of life and full of curiosity, within one year had his life destroyed.

“There are so many reasons I could think of why this film should be seen in every household and it would be just incredibly valuable if it were seen in every school.”

• Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost will be broadcast tonight at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player .

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'I just can’t believe our 12-year-old Patrick left the world the way he did - I thought he was so happy'

Parents of bullied young child who took his own life open up on new telly documentary which President Higgins says should be shown in every school

• 09:01, 27 NOV 2023
• Updated 09:09, 27 NOV 2023

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The parents of a 12-year-old Traveller boy who took his own life over constant bullying said they were completely unaware of what was happening until it was too late.

In a nutshell

The story of Patrick McDonagh is the subject of the documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which airs tonight. The programme aims to shine a light on the high suicide rates among Irish Travellers, which is seven times greater than the settled community.

Patrick, from Finglas, North Dublin, died a year ago and the film follows his parents, Michelle and Pat, as they come to terms with their loss. In sharing their harrowing personal story, his family’s hope is to inspire other people to speak up and ask for help.

What has been said

Mum Michelle Ward said: “I remember when he was born. He was the most beautiful little boy that was ever brought into this world. He was always clever. He loved English. He loved Irish. He knew everything about science. He loved fixing bikes.

“I just can’t believe he left the world the way he did. I just thought he was so happy. He showed no signs.”

Dad Pat said the family were unaware how badly his son was being targeted until after his death.

He added: “My little boy didn’t tell us anything. I mean, secrets he took it to the grave. God rest him. We never expected Patrick to do what he done. I’m no good with phones — that’s the reason why we didn’t pass any notice of the phones.

“But when he passed away, we started taking notice of the phones and started realising it was the phone. It was a poxy phone. He was hiding stuff where he was being bullied. He never told us deep down inside, the mental torture. God knows what he was going through.”

Michelle said: “He deleted everything off his phone before he passed away. Deleted his Snapchat. His TikTok. I couldn’t figure out why he deleted all of them, you know? We didn’t know what he was going through until the end, until people came and told us, little friends of Patrick’s came up and told us bits and pieces like we didn’t know.”

President Michael D Higgins has called for the programme, which features insights from Senator Eileen Flynn and Bernie Power, to be shown in schools and watched by everyone in the country. He said: “What an honour it was to attend an advance screening of Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost.

“Even though I am familiar with the issues with which the Travelling community struggle, the personal testimonies of Patrick McDonagh’s parents, and Bernie Power moved me in a way I find difficult to describe.

“It would be so valuable if all members of the public could see this film, which describes a life lost to bullying. An incredibly talented boy, interested in all aspects of life and full of curiosity, within one year had his life destroyed.

“There are so many reasons I could think of why this film should be seen in every household and it would be just incredibly valuable if it were seen in every school.”

■Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost will be broadcast Monday November 27 at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player

• Michael D Higgins
• Documentaries
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RTÉ viewers left ‘heartbroken’ over Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost documentary

RTÉ viewers were left ‘heartbroken’ over the national broadcaster’s new documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost.

The programme told the story of 12-year-old Patrick McDonagh, who passed away in Finglas last year.

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Exploring the impact of suicide on the Irish Traveller community, the documentary featured personal testimonies from his parents.

Patrick’s parents’ Michelle Ward and Pat McDonagh gave an insight into life after their son’s passing and living with grief.

‘He deleted everything off his phone before he passed away. Deleted his Snapchat. His Tiktok. I couldn’t figure out why he deleted all of them, you know?

‘We didn’t know what he was going through until the end, until people came and told us, little friends of Patrick’s came up and told us bits and pieces like we didn’t know,’ Ms Ward said.

Following his passing, Ms Ward said she ‘checked everywhere’ to see if she could ‘find one message’ from their son.

Recalling the day her son passed away, she said: ‘I heard a scream. I never heard before. I knew something was wrong, and I didn’t know what. Leona was just screaming. The more we did CPR, the colder his body was getting. They told us we lost him.’

Mr McDonagh described the bullying his son faced as ‘mental torture’ in a warning on the impacts of bullying.

Those watching the programme at home took to Twitter to emphasise the importance of Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost.

#Patrick – A Young Traveller Lost on @RTEOne . A powerful account of young #Travellers lives lost. If you, or someone you know needs support tonight – or any night – reach out. #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention pic.twitter.com/KnysQbWX6S — HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) (@NOSPIreland) November 27, 2023

As heartbreaking a watch tonight’s documentary is, it’s also such an important watch. Patrick’s parents and Bernie inspiringly spoke out to try and even help one person Please share and encourage people to watch #Patrick : A Young Traveller Lost @RTEplayer https://t.co/Hpf6gBT0gg pic.twitter.com/t3vyWxS3m8 — Laura Fitzgerald (@Laura_Fitzer) November 27, 2023

A beautiful child and his heart broken parents #Patrick , a community asking for their children not to be bullied and broken. Grief stricken pleas that cannot fall on deaf ears, there is far too much grief for the community. Everyone of us has a role to play. https://t.co/vTVaMLBUJd — Dr Sharon Lambert (@sharonlambert0) November 27, 2023

One person said: ‘My heart is broke, that poor mother. He was only a baby, something has to be done #Patrick.’

Another added: ‘As heartbreaking a watch tonight’s documentary is, it’s also such an important watch. Patrick’s parents and Bernie inspiringly spoke out to try and even help one person Please share and encourage people to watch #Patrick : A Young Traveller Lost.’

While someone wrote: ‘A beautiful child and his heart broken parents #Patrick , a community asking for their children not to be bullied and broken. Grief stricken pleas that cannot fall on deaf ears, there is far too much grief for the community. Everyone of us has a role to play.’

Anyone affected by issues raised in this article can contact The Samaritans on freephone 116 123 or email [email protected]

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More: Trending News

RTE viewers pour hearts out after 'powerful' Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost documentary

An RTÉ documentary that explores the harrowing story of 12-year-old Patrick McDonagh has left viewers heartbroken.

Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost aired on RTÉ on Monday night, exploring the challenges faced by the Traveller community as well as the devastating impact on those left behind.

Throughout the documentary, Patrick's parents, Michelle and Pat, opened up about the profound loss of their son as the broader issues faced by the Traveller community were highlighted.

Patrick's mother, Michelle Ward, shared poignant memories of her son with viewers, revealing a heartbreaking aspect of his struggle, RSVP reports.

READ MORE: Parents of boy, 12, who took his own life over constant bullying tell of their heartbreak

She said: "He deleted everything off his phone before he passed away. Deleted his Snapchat. His Tiktok. I couldn't figure out why he deleted all of them, you know?

“We didn't know what he was going through until the end until people came and told us, little friends of Patrick's came up and told us bits and pieces like we didn’t know."

Patrick's parents also went through old school copies and books to find any messages from Patrick, with Michelle explaining: "I check everywhere, to see if I can find one message, anything."

Michelle also described the heart-wrenching day that forever changed the McDonagh family's life, recounting the seemingly ordinary day, asking Patrick what he wanted to eat to be met with a chilling scream later on.

Michelle said: "I heard a scream. I never heard before. I knew something was wrong, and I didn't know what. Leona was just screaming. The more we did CPR, the colder his body was getting. They told us we lost him."

Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost also looked at Patrick's hidden pain, with his parents discovering the extent of bullying their son went through, which Patrick’s father called “mental torture”, shedding light on the struggles faced by young individuals.

Viewers took to social media platforms to express their reactions to the powerful documentary.

One viewer wrote: "My heart is broke watching this, he was only a baby."

Another posted about the importance of the documentary, writing: "Patrick is just such a desperately heartbreaking watch but so important…his whole life ahead of him…Beannacht leis."

Others commented on the heartbreaking moments captured in the film, adding: "The poignancy of Patrick’s parents tracing the deterioration of his mental health in his school copybooks. ‘Was he crying on the inside?’"

Another viewer wrote: "A devastating and powerful watch. My heart is broken for that beautiful boy’s family and for all who have lost to suicide."

If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article please contact:

Samaritans helpline 116 123

Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48

Pieta House on 1800 247 247

Important contact numbers and information: National Office for Suicide Prevention

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RTÉ viewers pour their hearts out in response to 'Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost'

Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost is a groundbreaking documentary recently aired on RTÉ, shedding light on the alarming issue of high suicide rates within the Irish Traveller community

• 22:35, 27 NOV 2023

The RTÉ documentary delves into the harrowing and deeply personal story of 12-year-old Patrick McDonagh, exploring the challenges faced by the community and emphasising the devastating impact on those left behind.

As viewers tuned in, they were met with a sensitive portrayal of Patrick's parents, Michelle and Pat, as they grappled with the profound loss of their son.

The documentary not only offered a glimpse into the McDonagh family's grief but also highlighted broader issues faced by the Traveller community.

READ MORE: President Michael D Higgins calls for powerful documentary to be shown in schools and watched by all

During the documentary, Patrick's mother , Michelle Ward, shared poignant memories of her son, revealing a heartbreaking aspect of his struggle.

She recounted: "He deleted everything off his phone before he passed away. Deleted his Snapchat. His Tiktok. I couldn't figure out why he deleted all of them, you know? We didn't know what he was going through until the end, until people came and told us, little friends of Patrick's came up and told us bits and pieces like we didn’t know."

In their quest for understanding and closure, Patrick's parents sifted through old school copies and books, desperately searching for any messages from Patrick. Michelle expressed her longing, saying: "I check everywhere, to see if I can find one message, anything."

The heart-wrenching day that altered the McDonagh family's life forever was recounted by Michelle.

She described a seemingly ordinary day, asking Patrick what he wanted to eat, only to be met with a chilling scream later.

Michelle recalled: "I heard a scream. I never heard before. I knew something was wrong, and I didn't know what. Leona was just screaming. The more we did CPR, the colder his body was getting. They told us we lost him."

The documentary also touched on Patrick's hidden pain, with his parents discovering the extent of bullying he endured. Patrick's father referred to it as "mental torture," shedding light on the silent struggles faced by young individuals.

Viewers took to social media platforms to express their reactions to the powerful documentary.

One viewer emotionally remarked: "My heart is broke watching this, he was only a baby."

Another emphasised the importance of the documentary, stating: "#Patrick is just such a desperately heartbreaking watch but so important…his whole life ahead of him…Beannacht leis."

Others highlighted the poignant moments captured in the film, such as Patrick's parents tracing the deterioration of his mental health in his school copybooks adding: "The poignancy of Patrick’s parents tracing the deterioration of his mental health in his school copybooks. ‘Was he crying on the inside?’"

The overarching sentiment among viewers was a mix of immense sadness, heartbreak for the family , and acknowledgment of the documentary's powerful impact.

One viewer encapsulated the collective sentiment, stating: "A devastating and powerful watch. My heart is broken for that beautiful boy’s family and for all who have lost to suicide."

Important contact numbers and information: National Office for Suicide Prevention

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A look back at “Pavee Song – Pavee Culture”

We take a look back at The Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith event that took place November 16th – November 19th 2023

“PAVEE SONG – PAVEE CULTURE”

A Season of Films, Photographs and a Concert,

Paying Tribute to The Irish Gypsy & Travelling Community.

“Pavee Song - Pavee Culture” comprised of three powerful documentary films about Irish Travellers Song Tradition and Culture. Dark Horse On The Wind pays homage to the life and songs of the traditional ballad singer- songwriter Liam Weldon (1933–1995): Songs Of The Open Road  focuses on the life of the award-winning Irish Traveller and Traditional Singer, Thomas McCarthy; Sé Merry Doyle’s Traveller Tales  captures five young Traveller boys, who go on a journey of discovery to seek out stories and songs from their heritage and Travelling culture.

  PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

“ The Travellers” by Donovan Wylie

At the age of just 17, in 1986 the Belfast-born photographer Donovan Wylie captured his images of “The Travellers” in Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk, County Kerry and County Clare – The collection became his first solo  exhibition, which was shown in Dublin, London and New York;  four decades later Wylie is now one of the leading photographers in the world.

A RARE & SPECIAL CONCERT - THOMAS McCARTHY

Irish Traveller, traditional singer and song collector, Thomas McCarthy performed a rare solo concert. McCarthy is winner of TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award; Ireland’s most prestigious award in traditional music.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILMS SCREENED

Dark Horse on The Wind

The Life and Songs Of Liam Weldon. 

Directed by Myles O’ Reilly. Produced by Lorraine Kennedy.

Dark Horse on the Wind looks back at the life and songs of the traditional ballad singer and songwriter Liam Weldon (1933 – 1995). A great admirer of Irish Traveller songs and music and a strong advocate for the aural tradition, Weldon was notoriously wary of self-promotion and so he left behind little in the way of recordings. But his legacy is more alive than ever today and flourishes in a new generation of folk singers.

Weldon was undoubtedly one of the finest Irish singers of any generation. He was also an outstanding songwriter and a champion of the oppressed and of the Irish Traveller community in particular, whose influence on his singing stretched back to his Dublin childhood. Unaccountably, his singing never really received the accolades it deserved, and he remains largely forgotten since his death, 28 years ago.

With newly discovered archive footage, stories from family and friends, and powerful performances of his work by Damien Dempsey, Radie Peat (Lankum), Lisa O’Neill and Daoirí Farrell, the film reveals much about the musician and about the family man, who gave so generously to the community in Ballyfermot (Dublin), where he lived.

Saturday Double Bill : Songs of The Open Road & Traveller Tales

Songs Of The Open Road

A focus on the Irish Traditional Singer Thomas McCarthy

Directed by Pat Collins  

Produced by Sharon Whooley & Vanessa Gildea

Followed by Q&A with Thomas McCarthy

Songs of The Open Road focuses on the life of the award-winning Irish Traveller and Traditional Singer, Thomas McCarthy. Thomas comes from a long line of singers and musicians who kept the tradition of singing strong within the Irish Traveller community. He now knows over a thousand songs and since 2021 Thomas has set about collating a repertoire of this fabulous part of Traveller heritage.

Filmmaker Pat Collins' evocative documentary, sheds light on the life and prowess of this great storyteller who was named Traditional Singer of the Year in the prestigious Gradam Ceoil Awards in 2019. This heart-warming film follows Thomas as he moves from his home in London to perform, sing and speak in various venues, festivals and clubs throughout Ireland and England. 

This screening was followed by a Q&A with Thomas McCarthy -and preceded by a screening of  the film “Traveller Tales”

Traveller Tales

Screened November 18th

Directed by Sé Merry Doyle Produced by Shauna Williams & Lillian Ashe  

A Loopline Film Production

The Director Sé Merry Doyle will Introduce this screening

Traveller Tales is a powerful, inspiring film in which we see four young Traveller boys, Ned Cash, Michael Cash, Jim Cash, Edward Cash, (from County Laois), go on a journey of discovery to seek out stories and songs from their heritage and culture. In the film the boys visit their elders, including their grandmother, Maggie Cash, who tells them tales about the old ways of the Traveller’s life. She tells them about her own life on the road with her husband Ned and their horse drawn caravan and she also tells the boys old riddles which had been handed down to her, from her own mother and grandmothers. These stories inspire the boys to realise that their culture is something to be proud of and that they have the honour of preserving it, so that one day they can pass it onto their own children. 

The film is directed by the acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Sé Merry Doyle and it’s produced by “The Port Project” - a Garda Youth Project which helps young people who are at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour and it’s a project which all of the four boys attend. What emerges is a vital, refreshing and uplifting film, which is full of hope and which honours and celebrates Irish Travellers culture and it also gives voices to young male Travellers, who are far too often ignored or never ever given the space to even be heard. 

Traveller Tales won the prestigious 2019 Garda Award

THOMAS MCCARTHY IN  CONCERT

Screened Sunday November 19th 

Award-Winning Irish Traditional Singer 

Thomas McCarthy In Concert

Thomas McCarthy (the subject of the film Songs Of The Open Road) is one of the most exciting and moving voices in traditional singing today - ‘you would stand in the snow to listen to Thomas McCarthy sing.' 

Thomas comes from a well-known musical Irish Traveller family who kept the tradition of singing strong. He is the grandson of a renowned ‘seanachie’ and grew up surrounded by the singing of his late mother, her father and aunts and uncles. McCarthy is also a passionate activist on behalf of his people and is an ambassador for Traveller singing and Traveller song. Thomas has a unique ability to connect with his audience and is described by Gradam Cheoil as captivating; “This singer has a voice of great strength, tone, character and sublime beauty’.

His technique is a joy to listen to. His art is particularly illustrative of the power of storytelling through song, beyond simply singing the song. His style of presentation, of narrative and history before and around the song, is captivating. He has a unique ability to connect with his audience. On top of that, he carries with him that distinctive style of singing – a movement in the longer notes – known as ‘the warble’.

In 2019, McCarthy won the Gradam Ceoil Award - Traditional Singer of the Year. The Gradam Ceoil is  awarded by the TV Station TG4 and it is considered to be the most prestigious award for Traditional music and song in Ireland.  Thomas McCarthy has collected more than 1,200 songs and  is committed to preserving this powerful and beautiful part of Irish Traveller culture. 

What The Press Are Saying….

“Tom has an outstanding voice, he sings from the heart, as if he were living the story  - The actual quality of Thomas’s voice stops you in your tracks rather and holds you spellbound thereafter.”  David Kidman: Living Tradition, 

To learn more about The Irish Cultural Centre, visit:  What's On | Upcoming Events - Irish Cultural Centre

The Irish Cultural Centre

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5, Blacks Road W6 9DT 020 8563 8232

1 minute from Hammersmith Tube Stations: Situated behind Marks & Spencers on King St W6.

The new faces of Traveller music bringing a fresh take on folk, hip-hop and rap

As a country that champions its artists, focus must be shifted to creativity in the margins.

Steo Wall: ‘Maybe there is something in the fact that music can often transcend our differences.’

With all the socio-political discussions surrounding Irish Travellers in the media, we can be forgiven for forgetting that there are positive things happening in the background, including a fresh new approach to expression through the medium of music and song. Ireland has a long history of advocating for our artists and creatives, and we are known for the high quality of music we produce, from trad sessions to contemporary pop and rock. But we rarely hear about music from the margins, and specifically, music from the Traveller community. I took some time to talk to five new and emerging singers and musicians from that community.

Steo Wall: ‘At the end of the day, we all enjoy music in the same way’

Steo Wall is from Dún Laoghaire but now lives in Ennistymon, Co Clare. His genre of music is normally contemporary urban folk. “I write all my own songs,” he tells me. “I learned to play the guitar when I was 12, it was an uncle that taught me how to play. I grew up with my grandmother, I was exposed to her favourite music. Since my grandmother’s uncles were Felix and Johnny Doran, we would listen to a lot of Irish trad music, and this influenced me greatly.”

For Steo, the highest point of his career was “writing a song for my grandmother, called Sarah Doran. At the RTÉ Radio 1 inaugural Folk Awards, when inducting John Reilly, Christy Moore introduced him on stage to sing Sarah Doran, “which for me was a magical moment in my career”.

On his experience as a Traveller musician, Steo says, “I have found most people to be extremely supportive of me and my music. Maybe there is something in the fact that music can often transcend our differences, because at the end of the day, we all enjoy music in the same way.”

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Steo is working on a project with musician Thomas McCarthy and actor Michael Collins, which has been funded by the Arts Council. They will be exploring the National Folklore Collection in Dublin and old footage and photographs of Travellers stored in the Irish Film Institute. Steo is also performing in Marlay Park for the Féile Nasc on August 27th. "My new album, Street Wisdom for Lost Souls, is out at the end of 2021 and my previous album, Where I'm From, is available on steowall.ie ."

Sharyn Ward: ‘The older I get, the more I am becoming aware of how beautiful our community’s singing, poetry and art is’

Sharyn Ward is originally from Longford but now based in Dublin. Her style of singing would mainly be sean nós.

“My influences were always family members, especially Big Daddy – my grandfather. There was someone always singing in our home. The highest point in my career was getting to perform on Ireland’s Got Talent, because it was a great opportunity to perform to the nation and to show a positive side to Travellers.”

Sharyn also recalls that “the lows, unfortunately, were the hundreds of negative and discriminatory comments that followed it. The comments attacked me, my family, and my community.”

“The older I get, the more I am becoming aware of how beautiful our community’s singing, poetry and art is,” she says. “It is unfortunate that the reality behind it would tell you that 90 per cent of it will never be recognised. I would not have bothered with singing if it were not for Lucy Kennedy and Ireland’s Got Talent encouraging me to take part.”

Making it in the music industry is difficult for everyone, says Sharyn. “But it is even more so when you are a Traveller trying to book a venue. There is a fear amongst venues that a Traveller artist will attract a crowd of Travellers.”

Her advice to next generation musicians? “Stay proud of who you are and never change or stop what you are doing for anyone. You are perfect and beautiful the way you are.”

Sharyn will complete and release her own album this year. She is also performing in a few shows across Ireland. "I have a special concert that highlights mental health, planned for the Axis in Ballymun this year. We are just seeking supports at the moment." When not on stage, Sharyn can always be found singing on live feed sessions on her Facebook page @sharynwardsinger .

William Casey: ‘I’m the type to figure out why I can’t do something and educate myself to the point where I can at least put up a good debate’

“I’m from the rap capital of Ireland, Limerick city,” says William Casey, aka Willzee. “My genre of music would be rap/hip-hop and spoken word. I started a few years back as a source of self-therapy, I guess. I have been influenced by many people, but the ones that stand out are Dyrt Davis, Mynameisj0hn and Mic Righteous. Over the past while, Enda Gallery has been the producer behind my tracks. He inspires me to return the greatness.”

Speaking on the highs and lows of his career, Willzee says: “The lows of the industry would be that it is sometimes lonely... The highs to me have to be winning Virgin Media’s Dublin International Film Festival short film competition in 2019 for a short I wrote called Innocent Boy, while finally releasing my debut album this year will also be a massive high.”

And what does Willzee believe sets him apart from everyone else? “I’m not afraid to speak the truth on a level most say they are but never do, love me or hate me, my honesty can’t be denied.”

What is it like to be a Traveller rap artist? “If I am honest, I haven’t had many setbacks from being a Traveller when it comes to performing, only if some pub owners find out I am a Traveller they become cagey, which in some cases I can’t blame them, but most give you the trust and if you don’t mess about all is good for another one if you need it.”

Asked if he has faced any of the barriers other Traveller performers encounter, he says: “I’d say none, I don’t let anything hold me back, I’m the type to figure out why I can’t do something and educate myself to the point where I can at least put up a good debate.”

Willzee's debut album Kuti Gris, which means "a piece of heart" in Shelta, will be released this year. His most recent song released this month, called A Dream of Peace is, available now on YouTube . Willzee is on Twitter @WillzeeTWOW .

Kathleen Marie Keenan: ‘I also now spend time working on ways to highlight mental health issues and suicide amongst Travellers’

Kathleen Marie Keenan is from Ennis, Co Clare, but now lives in Co Galway. Her music genre is Irish folk and country. Fifteen years ago, Tommy Tiernan and Hector Ó hEochagáin were doing a live show at the Iveagh Gardens. Hector had asked me to do them a favour, they wanted some talented Traveller singers to join them on stage. Until then I had only heard the Keenan sisters and brother Davie, busking on the streets of Galway. When they took to the stage, they were outstanding, even putting Tommy in his place when he brought out one or two of his banked Traveller jokes. Kathleen was, and is, a natural performer and a lovely soul.

“I have been singing since I was about four or five years of age,” she says. “Most people would say that their inspirations are singers they listened to. For me, it was my parents. Sadly, we lost our mother in 2019 after a battle with ovarian cancer and with that one of my main inspirations in life.”

“Some of the high points in my life were performing in Dublin with Paddy Keenan and with the Hothouse Flowers, and in 2015 I performed with Daniel O’Donnell. I also appeared on the Saturday Night Show with Brendan O’Connor. Unfortunately, the lows in my career came from not getting opportunities beyond that or being able to book venues to perform shows, which has been down to who I am, and not what I sing.”

“I am using this time to write my songs, but I also now spend time working on ways to highlight mental health issues and suicide amongst Travellers. Since we lost our brother to it recently, it has been something I feel strongly about. I hope to raise awareness of this issue through my music because suicide is such a big issue for Travellers, and something we don’t speak about enough.”

Kathleen's music can be found on her Facebook page, @illerstate for more on Twitter.

Shelley Ward: ‘The highs of my career will always be the appreciation for my music I get from live audiences, while the lows would have to be the recent pandemic, which stole that away from all performers’

Shelley Ward, born to a Traveller mother and a Jamaican father, grew up in Moss side, Manchester, and his genre of music is hip-hop.

“My main influence would be Tupac, listening to his lyrics and the quality of his music inspired me to just go for it, to at least try. I started about 13 years ago with some rapping, but both my parents would have played a lot of music around me. I grew up listening to old Irish ballads and reggae.

“What is interesting about the music myself and my band (Illerstate) make is that it is a blend of hip-hop with rock, as in, you can hear the guitar in it, it is an authentic sound, there’s no one that sounds like us.”

On discrimination he has faced: “There was one time I booked a venue for a show and when they found out I was a Traveller, they came up with some excuse about overbooking the room. There is a lot of anti-Traveller stuff like that happening in the UK. We even have politicians trying to stop our way of life. It’s a crazy time. As a black man, I know what it is like to get  hated because of who you are, but it is my surname and the fact I often speak proudly about my Traveller heritage that prevents me from gigging. I am a proud black Jamaican and Irish Traveller; no amount of racism or hatred will change that. In fact, it will only make me more determined to succeed. I want both Travellers and Black people to realise we fight the same fight, just in different colour skin.”

Shelley has a few solo tracks coming out soon, and he and his band are planning another music video in the coming weeks. "We are cooking a storm," he says. "And  I cannot wait for everyone to enjoy it, Illerstate need to make a trip to Ireland, someone book us," he says with a hopeful laugh. Follow @illerstate for more on Twitter.

[  The HazBeanz show  ]

Charlene: ‘That one song was such an incredible feat. I loved it’

‘i sort of vomited up a draft’: megan nolan and amanda feery on creating an opera for the first time, britney spears’s court-appointed lawyer asks to resign from conservatorship, odd numbers: the golden éire tapes vol 1 – impressive production in need of editor’s cut, soda blonde – small talk: artful, accessible and cinematic, darren kennedy’s spotify playlist: ‘my style was inspired by liam gallagher. it was oasis mania’, earl slick: ‘bowie didn’t look himself. he was prone to depression. i thought it was that’, in this section, mitski at 3arena review: a remarkable opening kick-starts a breathtaking night of melody and melodrama, into the groove: madonna attracts 1.6 million to free concert at brazil’s copacabana beach, the black keys in dublin: gritty show gives people what they wanted, especially towards the triumphant finish, beating the drum for preserving the language and culture of canada’s indigenous nations, passion, booze, madness and comradeship: bruce springsteen’s special relationship with ireland, distressed mother tells judge her daughter alleges ‘multiple’ rapes by teenage brother, woman dies in fall at cliffs of moher after ‘losing footing’ while walking with friends, teenage girl killed in road crash in co wicklow as young driver of car is arrested, brothers awarded €95,000 each over mistaken arrest for grafton street handbag theft, this couple lived on great blasket with no electricity or running water. here’s what they did next, latest stories, phoenix park and various barracks urged as tent site alternatives to grand canal.

The Irish Times view on the UK elections: grim news for the Tories

Women’s soccer round-up: Eileen Gleeson hoping Noelle Murray’s magic will rub off on Ireland squad

Russian attacks on Kharkiv region kill one and injure 17, officials say

Eddie Dunbar loses time after crash as Pogačar races into overall lead at Giro d’Italia

On the case – Tim Fanning on Armagh detective James McParland and his battles with the Molly Maguires

Liverpool and Harvey Elliott turn on style to deal hammer blow to Spurs’ top-four hopes

Connor Gleeson’s late free wins Galway third Connacht title in a row

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Welcome to Meath Travellers Workshops

Music & song, “the black velvet band”.

All alone as I went for her hand bag, all alone by my self I did stray, I met with a gay young sea man walking along the bay

Chorus Her eyes they shone like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulders tied up with a black velvet band

Next day I was hunted and captured all alone by my self I did stand And I was charged with robbing and steeling and for loving the black velvet band

Chorus All you lads that are sober and single thank the morning from me if you can Look out for the girl with the blue eyes and her hair in a black velvet band

“My Family Lived in Wexford Town”

Sung by Celine O Leary

My family lived in Wexford town, stopped travelling and settled down, Though my father kept a horse and car, we lived within the town, The people there mis understood, or they did not know our ways, So with horse and car, back on the road, I began my travelling days My father was called the Fiddler Dunne, and I’m a fiddler too, But although I often felt his fist, he taught me all he knew, I know I’ll never be as good, and yet I feel no shame, For the other things my father taught, I am proud to bear his name.

He taught me pride and how to live, though the road is hard and long, And how a man will never starve, with a banjo, fiddle or song, And how to fight for what I own, and what I know is right, And how to camp beside a ditch on a stormy winter’s night.

O times were good and times were bad, and people cruel and kind, But what I learned of people then, has stayed within my mind, I’ll honour friends with all my heart, do for them all I can, But I’ve learnt to go the road again, when they spurn the tinker man.

O Wexford is a town I like, but the travelling man they scorn, And a man must feel affection for the town where he was born, I know one day, that I’ll go back, when my travelling days are done, And people will begin to wonder, what has happened to the Pecker Dunne.

“Willie Leonard”

It was early one morning Willie Leonard arose, And straight to his comrade’s bedchamber he goes, Crying,” Comrade, loyal comrde, let no body know, ‘Tis a fine summer’s morning, and a-bathing we’ll go”.

To the Lake of Coolfin the comrades soon came And who should they meet but the keeper of game. “Turn back, Willie Leonard, do not venture in, There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin.”

But Willie jumped in and he swum the lake round, He soon reached an island, ’twas soft, boggy ground, “Oh comrade, loyal comrade, don’t follow me in There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin.” It was very soon after, Willie’s sister awoke And unto her mother all sadly she spoke, “Oh I dreamt a sad dream about Willie last night He came to my room in a shroud of snow white.”

Willie’s mother arose, and she went to the lake, She called her son’s name, and she wept for his sake. “Oh, sad was the hour when my Willie plunged in, There are deep and false waters in the Lake of Coolfin.”

Oh, to see Willie’s funeral, it was a grand sight There were four-and-twenty young men, they were all dressed in white. There were four-and-twenty young maids, they were all dressed in green. Just to show that he was drowned in the Lake of Coolfin.

“Nan McCann”

Sung with Story Introduction by Davey Collins

It was in a Dundalk old town as I rode down on a holiday after noon, the old cornfields they were fresh and green and all nature was in full bloom, we went walking there on upon the old square, she approached me there on the van shore, she was all was there my old charming fare, it was lovingly Nan McCann.

And we both did sit up and we had a old chat, talking about the weather fine, she removed off on me my old keen and gloves, and like wise my Caroline, than quite modestly she said to me did you come far young man, off on the old litter hill in near knock on vill than I answered young Nan McCann, well we meet in an old shop that sold an old drop, and I asked her in to go, with a little force shore she did of course and a pint she had, also now the old drop it was piping hot and she cooled all with her fan was in it two or three she had with me, my own lovely Nan McCann.

Now there was Dinny old Conley and Jim Welch and poor old Paddy came from Kells now each of those they would love to no were did the young fare maid dwell, it was out from three O’ she did pick me, all do I love Maryann O’ the last you will see a long with me, is my lovely Nan McCann

“A mother’s love is a blessing”

Sung By Margaret O Leary

An Irish boy was leaving Leaving his native home, Crossing the broad Atlantic sea, Once more he wished to roam, And as he was leaving his mother, While standing on the Quay, She put her arms around he’s waist And this to her did say:

A mother’s love is a blessing, No matter where you roam. Keep her while she’s living, You’ll miss her when she’s gone. Love her as in childhood, When feeble, old and grey, For you’ll never miss your mother’s love ’til she’s buried beneath the clay.

And as the years grow onward, I’ll settle down in life, And I’ll choose a nice young colleen, And take her for my wife. And as the kids grow older, They’ll play around my knee And I’ll teach them the very same lesson That my mother taught to me:

A mother’s love is a blessing, No matter where you roam. Keep her while she’s living, You’ll miss her when she’s gone. Love her as in childhood, When feeble, old and grey, For you’ll never miss a mother’s love ’til she’s buried beneath the clay.

“The Galway Shawl”

Sung by Margaret O’Leary

In Oran more, in the County Galway One pleasant evening In the month of May I spied a damsel she was young and handsome Her beauty fairly took my breath away

She wore no jewels or costly diamonds No paint or powder, no none at all She wore a bonnet with a ribbon on it And around her shoulder was the Galway shawl

As we kept on walking, She kept on talking Till her fathers cottage came into view

Said she Come in, Sir, And meet my father And for to please him, Play the Foggy Dew

Played the Blackbird And the Stack of Barley Rodney’s Glory and the Foggy Dew She sang each note Like an Irish Linnet And the tears flowed in her eyes of blue

‘Twas early, early, all in the morning I took the road for old Donegal Said she Goodbye Sir, I dried my eye for My heart remained with the Galway shawl

She wore no jewels or costly diamonds No paint or powder, no none at all She wore a bonnet with a ribbon on it And around her shoulder was the Galway shawl, And round her shoulder is the Galway shawl.

“The Ballad of Aidan McAnaspie”

Sung Paddy Joyce

It was on a sunny even The sun shun in the sky, As he walked his way to the Gaelic ground, Never thinking he was going to die As he crossed the check point, The sound of gun fire came, The news spread true the boarder town Aidan McAnaspie was slain,

So why did you do it Have you not the guts to say it was an accident Or even a ricochet like local And Debra your lies are well renowned, You murdered Aidan McAnaspies On his way to the Gaelic ground

For years he was hounded By the force of the crown As he walked to work every day, He left his native town, The solders swore they’d get him, For reasons no one could say And sure enough they murdered him on that sunny day

Aidan life was ending It was time for judgment day, The solder jumped from the tower The coward he ran away, God curse on the English For the cruel thing you’ve done, But God will have the final say When your judgment day will come, To say it was an accident was the greatest crime of all, It’s the worst that can be fall, Now a cross marks the lonely spot Where Aidan he was shot down, As he walked on that sunny even on his way to the Gallic town

“In Connemara as I went walking one day”

In Connemara as I went walking one day I sat by the sea and I watched The young girls at there play And they spoke in a tongue that was so strange To me for it was Gallic They spoke as they laughed and played by the sea, O but who is going to hear them And who is going to tell them well done, And who will rejoice that Irish is native tongue So beware little girls you’re the only white sheep in the cold, And the language of Ireland may be yours before you grow old, And we are told to forgive and forget Bad times time’s that are gone most of Ireland is ours Most English men were they belong, But it’s hard to forget when those pretty voices I hear speak a language in Ireland That is all so strange to my ears In Connemara as I went walking one day I sat by the sea and I watched The young girls at there play And they spoke in a tongue that was so strange

“Don’t give up on me”

Sung by Mary Jane Nevin

I read a note my grandma wrote back in nineteen twenty-three. Grandpa kept it in his coat, and he showed it once to me. He said, “Boy, you might not understand, but a long, long time ago, Grandma’s daddy didn’t like me none, but I loved your Grandma so.”

We had this crazy plan to meet and run away together. Get married in the first town we came to, and live forever. But nailed to the tree where we were supposed to meet, instead Of her, I found this letter, and this is what it said:

If you get there before I do, don’t give up on me. I’ll meet you when my chores are through; I don’t know how long I’ll be. But I’m not gonna let you down, darling wait and see. And between now and then, till I see you again, I’ll be loving you. Love, me.

I read those words just hours before my Grandma passed away, In the doorway of a church where me and Grandpa stopped to pray. I know I’d never seen him cry in all my fifteen years; But as he said these words to her, his eyes filled up with tears.

If you get there before I do, don’t give up on me. I’ll meet you when my chores are through; I don’t know how long I’ll be. But I’m not gonna let you down, darling wait and see. And between now and then, till I see you again, I’ll be loving you. Love, me. Between now and then, till I see you again, I’ll be loving you. Love, me.

“The long black veil”

Ten years ago someone was killed on a cold dark night Someone was killed in the hall town light, There were a few at the scene But they all agreed that the slayer that ran Looked a lot like me, She walked these hills in a long black veil She visits my grave when the night wind wails, Nobody knows nobody sees nobody knows but me

The judge said son what is your alibi If you were somewhere else you won’t have to die, I spoke not a word for it meant my life For how could I tell I was with my best friend’s wife? She walked these hills in a long black veil She visits my grave when the night wind wails, Nobody knows nobody sees nobody knows but me,

The scaffold was high and he turned hear, She stood in the crowed And she shed not a tear but sometimes at night when the cold wind moans’ In I long black veil she cry’s over my bones, She walked these hills in a long black veil She visits my grave when the night wind wails, Nobody knows nobody sees nobody knows but me

“Where Peter Crowley lies”

Sung by Molly Collins

For I rambled out one evening on the month of June And straight into a church yard to view a noble tomb

Over heard an old man saying as tears ran from his old eyes In beneath the cold cold cry today were Peter Crowley lies,

The grave were Peter Crawley lies the grass it grows green And clean and underneath were Peter sleeps because he loved

The old green he fought and he died for Irelands right for Crowley’s Only son many a day shoulder are two Killarney to Tralee then many

A day a stormy melt Mc Cree because you were feeding young boy you Died for liberty

“Sailing Dark Waters”

Sung by Julie Doyle

The seagulls are calling And the wind is in the sale And were fast moving out to the sea On the on a ship and St John Three thousand miles away A human cargo my comrades And me, Fare well my great valley God keep you the same If in only my mind view will be, I’m sailing dark waters To far America Never more my great valley to see, There’s a raging and the winds are tidal waves And the journey can no longer be And the plague is a shadow That lingers night and day, For from my green valley I’ll bid fare well my green valley’s God keep you The same if In only my mind view Will be I’m sailing dark waters To for and more it came Never more my green valley I’ll be never more my green valley I’ll be

“The Ballad of Pat O’Donnell”

By Martin Anthony Collins

My name is Pat O’Donnell And I come from Donegal, l am, you know, a dangerous foe To traitors one and all; For the shooting of James Carey I’ve been tried in London town, And now upon the gallows high My life I must lay down.

I sailed aboard the Montrose, In August ‘eighty-three, And on my voyage to Capetown He was made known to me. When I heard he was James Carey, We had angry words and blows, And the villain he strove to take my life On board of the Montrose.

I stood up to defend myself, And fight before I’d die; My pocket pistol I drew forth, And at him I did fly; We fired until the second round, When I shot him through the heart, And I gave him the third revolver shot Before he did depart.

Oh! Carey’s wife and child came to The cabin where he lay, And seeing him lying in his gore It filled them with dismay. “O’Donnell, you’ve shot my husband,” Mrs. Carey loud did cry; “Oh, yes, I did, in self-defence, Madam,” then said I.

The captain had me handcuffed And guarded iron-bound, And I was kept a prisoner ’till we landed in Capetown; I was then brought back to England, When my trial it came on, And the prosecutors for the Crown Were Carey’s wife and son. The jury found me guilty, And the judge made this replay: “For the murder of James Carey, O’Donnell, you must die On the twenty-third of December And on the gallows high; So the Lord have mercy on your soul, For your hour is drawing nigh.”

It was in a Dundalk old town As I rode down on a holiday after noon, The old cornfields they were fresh and green And all nature was in full bloom, We went walking there on upon the old square, She approached me there on the van shore, She was all was there my old charming fare, It was lovingly Nan McCann.

And we both did sit up And we had a old chat, Talking about the weather fine, She removed off on me my old keen and gloves, And like wise my Caroline, Than quite modestly she said to me Did you come far young man, Off on the old litter hill In near knock on vill Than I answered young Nan McCann, Well we meet in an old shop that sold an old drop, And I asked her in to go, With a little force shore She did of course and a pint she had, Also now the old drop it was piping hot And she cooled all with her fan Was in it two or three she had with me, My own lovely Nan McCann.

Now there was Dinny old Conley and Jim Welch And poor old Paddy came from Kells Now each of those They would love to know Where did the young fare maid dwell, It was out from three O’ She did pick me, All do I love Maryann O’ The last you will see a long with me, Is my lovely Nan McCann

“Spancil Hill”

Sung by Julie Ann Joyce

Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by My mind been bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly I stepped on board a vision and followed with a will Till next I came to anchor at the cross in Spancil Hill

It been on the twenty-third of June the day before the fair When Irelands sons and daughters and friends assembled there the young, the old, the brave and the bold came their duty to fulfill at the parish church in Clooney, a mile from Spancil Hill

Delighted by the novelty, enchanted by the scene. Where in me early boyhood where often I had been. I thought I heard a murmur. I think I hear it still. It’s the little stream of water that flows down Spancil Hill.

To amuse a passing fancy, I laid down on the ground. And all my school companions, they shortly gathered round. When we were home returning, we danced with bright good will To Martin Monahan’s music, at the cross at Spancil Hill.

I went to see me neighbours to see what they might say The old ones were all dead and gone, the young ones turning grey But I met the tailor Quigley, he’s as bold as ever still Ah, he used to make me britches when I lived at Spancil Hill

I paid a flying visit to my first and only love She’s as white as any lily, gentle as a dove And she threw her arms around me, saying Johnny I love you still Ah, she’s now a farmer’s daughter and the pride of Spancil Hill

I dreamt I knelt and kissed her as in the days of yore Ah, Johnny you’re only joking as many the time before Then the cock he crew in the morning, he crew both loud and shrill I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill

“The Hills of Sweet Mayo”

Sung by Maggie Myers

Last night I heard the news that nearly broke my heart, When a guilty boy came from the hills said that you were shot, Will you come with me to find my love an the hill of sweet Mayo, We started off together her true love for to find Three nights we searched for him till at last we found It was there we found her true love dead on the hill of sweet Mayo Her own true love was a rebel who loved his liberty He fought in 1916 for to set old Ireland free Was the Fenian gone shot her love on the hills of sweet Mayo, Was the Fenian gone that shot her love on the hills of sweet Mayo.

“Title not available”

Lyrics not available

“Galway Bay”

Sung by Martin Joe Joyce

If you ever cross the sea to Ireland And maybe at the closing of your day You can seat and watch the sun rise over clada, And watch the sun go down on Galway bay Maybe some day I’ll go back again to Ireland If my dear old wife would only pass away, Now she has my poor old heath broke with all her nagging, And she has a mouth as big as Galway Bay, After drinking sixteen pints of Arthur Guinness And she walks down the road with out a sway, If the auld sea was bare in stead of salty water A then she would live and die on Galway bay, After drinking sixteen points in Padgo Murphy And the bar man say’s its time to go, Now she doesn’t try to answer him in Irish But speaks a language that the Traveller’s do not know, Well on her back she has a map of Ireland, And when she takes her bath on Saturdays Well she rubs the care ball soap all round the clada Just to watch the auld suds go down on Galway bay, Well her feet are like auld lump of board na Mona And her hair is like a rake of last years hay, A and when I rub my around her turage A she’ll forget about auld Galway bay.

“Sam Hill”

Oh, me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep, chimney sweep Oh, me name it is Sam Hall, chimney sweep Oh, me name it is Sam Hall and I´ve robbed both rich and small And me neck will pay for all when I die, when I die And me neck will pay for all when I die

I have got twenty pounds in store, that´s not all, that´s not all I have got twenty pounds in store, that´s not all I have got twenty pounds in store and I´ve robbed for twenty more For the rich must help the poor, so must I, so must I For the rich must help the poor, so must I

Oh, they brought me to Coote Hill, in a cart, in a cart Oh, they brought me to Coote Hill, in a cart Oh, they brought me to Coote Hill and t´was there I make my will For the best of friends must part, so must I, so must I For the best of friends must part, so must I

Up the ladder I did grope, that´s no joke, that´s no joke Up the ladder I did grope, that´s no joke Up the ladder I did grope and the hangman pulled the rope And it´s ne´er a word I spoke, tumblin´ down, tumblin´ down And it´s ne´er a word I spoke, tumblin´ down

“Long, long before your time”

Sung by Julia McDonnell

You ask me why I look so sad on this bright summer’s day, And why the tears are in my eyes and I seem so far away, Well sit yourself beside me love and put your hand in mine, And I’ll tell you of someone I loved long, long before your time, Well I’m sittin here and thinking of those days so long ago, When I was just a child like you and the girl I used to know, Through fields of green we laughed and played and sang our merry rhymes, O we were young and happy then, long, long before your time.

Through childhood years our love did bloom, till our hearts were just as one, And we promised each eternal love in the church below the town, We settled in this little house I was proud to call her mine, Oh we were young and happy then, long, long before your time One lovely year was all we had until the sickness came, And stole the roses from her cheeks, my tears they fell like rain,

For nine long months she carried you, but in the end she died, She chose to go so you might live, long long before your time, So you ask me why I look so sad on this bright summer’s day, And why the tears are in my eyes and I seem so far away, Its just you seem a lot like her when your eyes look into mine, And you smile so much like she did, long, long before your time.

“The Factory Girl”

Sung by Nellie Joyce

As I was a walking one midsummer morning The birds in the branches so sweetly did sing The lads and the lasses together were sporting Going down to yon factory their work to begin

I spied one amongst them more fairer than any Her lips like red roses that none could excel Her skin like the lily that blooms in the valley And besides she’s a hard working factory girl

I stepped up to her, it was for to view her When on me she cast a bright look of disdain “Oh young man have manners and do not insult me For although I’m a poor girl I think it no shame”

“It’s not for to scorn you, fair maid I adore you Come grant me one favor, love where do you dwell?” “Oh young man, excuse me, for now I must leave you For yonder’s the sound of my factory bell”

“Oh I have fine houses adorned with ivory Gold in my pocket and silver as well And if you’ll come with me, a lady I’ll make you And no more will you heed yon poor factory bell”

“Oh love and temptation are our ruination Go find you a lady and may you do well For I am an orphan with ne’er a relationAnd besides, I’m a hard working factory girl”

“Waltz of an Angel”

Sung by Lena Keenan

Played a party last night for some old folks They were dancing and smiling at me ‘Cept this old man alone at a table As if there’s someplace that he’d rather be

So I said, “Sir, can I play something for you. Something special that you’d like to hear” When he looked up at me he was smiling Oh, but his eyes couldn’t hide the tears

He said, “Play me the Waltz of the Angels, And I’ll close my eyes and pretend. Play me the Waltz of the Angels, So I can dance with my angel again.”

He said, “Yes, that’s the song I remember Thats’ the one that she loved the best It was playing the night that I met her and it was playing when we laid her to rest.”

Repeat Chorus

“Let me dance with my angel again.”

“John Mitchell”

By Bridget Collins

I am a true born Irish man John Mitchell is my name An for to free my country From Mary’s town I came, We struggled hard o night and day For to free my native land On till I was transported Going to van diamond’s land And when I first tried my country It was in August forty two And that what followed after this I will quickly tell to you, I would rather stand in Dowry peel Are glory in the doe I vowed to heaven I never would Rest until Ireland would be free, O here in prison I am close confined I’ll wait till my trial day My loving wife she came up to me And tis to me did say She said John me boy cheer up my heart

“Leaving Skibereen”

Sung By John Keenan

Oh father dear, I oft-times hear You speak of Erin’s isle Her lofty hills, her valleys green, Her mountains rude and wild They say she is a lovely land Wherein a saint might dwell So why did you abandon her, the reason to me tell? Oh well do I remember that bleak December day The landlord and the sheriff came to take us all away They set my roof on fire with their cursed English spleen I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye to dear old Skibbereen And you were only two years old and feeble was your frame I could not let you with my friends You would bore your fathers name I wrapped you in my old plaid coat The night of death unseen And that’s on other reason why I left old Skibereen Oh father dear, the day will come when in answer to the call All Irish men of freedom stern will rally one and all I’ll be the man to lead the band beneath the flag of green And loud and clear we’ll raise the cheer, Revenge for Skibbereen!

“Standing around the camp fire in the dark”

Sung by Johnny Keenan

My father rises early and makes a sup of tea He lights the kitchen stove and then he calls me His days are often empty, nothing much to do And so he tells me stories of the travelling life he knew

In the evening they would meet in lonely country lanes A field away you’d hear a collie bark As they passed the time away with talks about the day Standing ’round the campfire in the dark Standing ’round the campfire in the dark

My mother likes the house, the hot water and the rooms It’s warm in the winter and she’s handy with the broom Sometimes she makes Colcannon, more often Griddle Bread For there’s a hunger deep inside her for a life that’s nearly dead.

In the evening she would lift the black pots from the coals A bit to eat she always would remark There’d be vessels left to clean while children could be seen Playing ’round the campfire in the dark Playing ’round the campfire in the dark Sometimes we go to the pool hall and chat up the town beoirs Sometimes at the disco we can’t get passed the doors Were still tinkers to them its thrown at are ears Were still the strangers after all theses years

I think about my own life and the way that it will be An Escort van, a bit of dealing, a wife and family Thursday I collect the Dole, maybe pitch and toss And on the site I think about the travellers’ ways we’ve lost And in the evening we would meet in lonely country lanes A field away you’d hear a collie bark they would pass the time away About talk about today standing around the camp fire in the dark, Standing around the camp fire in the dark

“Seven Spanish Angels”

Sung by Mary Ellen Mongon

He looked down into her blue eyes, and said “Say a prayer for me”.

SheThrew her arms around him, whispered “God will keep us free”. They could hear the riders coming’, He said “This is my last fight…If they Take me back to Texas, they won’t Take me back a-live.

There were seven Spanish angels, at the Altar of the sun. They were prayin’ for the lovers, in the Valley of the gun. When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared, There was thunder from the throne, And seven Spanish angels, took a-nother Angel home.

She reached down and picked the gun up, That lay smokin in his hand. She said, “Father please forgive me; I can’t make it without my man.” And she knew the gun was empty, And she knew she couldn’t win, But her final prayer was answered When the rifles fired again.

“My rifle, my pony and me “

Purple light in the canyon That’s where I long to be With my three good companions Just my rifle, pony, and me

Gonna hang my sombrero On the limb of a tree Comin’ home sweetheart darlin’ Just my rifle, pony and me

(Whippoorwill in the willow Sings a sweet melody) Ridin’ to (Ridin’ to) Amarillo (Amarillo) Just my rifle, pony, and me No more cows (no more cows) to be ropin’ (to be ropin’) No more (strain)STRAYS will I see Round the bend (round the bend) she’ll be waitin’ (she’ll be waitin’) For my rifle, pony, and me For my rifle, my pony, and me

“Old cahermee”

Sung by Paddy Collins

My name is Paddy McNInerney an old country man am I In search of a wife I went travelling until I came into old Cahemee Well the first man I met was red Danny and a nice man he seemed for to be He invited me out to his auld wagon, were I know there was a welcome For me, well the first he drew it was dealing and the next it was Julia to me Ten pounds in a fair is Julia’s earnings and the lady my daughter well be Don’t be bragging are boasting of your daughter for a lady your daughter may be She’ll be flashing my auld piebald and wagon around the mane street of old cahermee

“Red-haired Mary”

It was going to the fair in Dingle one fine morning last July and going down the road before me a red haired girl I chanced a spy, I stepped up to her, said young lady My auld donkey he would carry two she looked at me her Her eyes a twinkled and her cheeks they were all rose two Well thank you kindly ser she whispered then she tossed her Bright red hair, well seen as how you have your donkey shore I’ll ride with you to the dingle fair now when we reach the fair In Dingle I take her hand and say good bye when a Traveller Man stepped up be side me and he thumped me right in my Left eye,

Take your hands off red haired Mary her and I Are two be wed were seen the priest this very morning Until I can lay in Mary’s bed Well I was feeling kind of peevish and my poor auld eye was sad And sore well I taped him gently with my hog nails and he flow Right through Murphy’s door

A police man came around the corner and he told me I had broke The law, when the donkey taped him in the angle and he fell down And broke his jaw now he went off to find his brother and the Finest man you ever did see when he taped me gently and I was Minis two front teeth

“If she seems cold and bitter”

Sung by Celine O’Leary

If she seems cold and bitter than (then) I beg of you Just stop and consider all she’s going’ through Don’t be quick to condemn her for things she might say Just remember life turned her that way She’s been walked on and stepped on so many times And I hate to admit it but that last footprint’s mine She was crying when I met her, she cries harder today So don’t blame her life turned her that way

She’s been walked on and stepped on so many times And I hate to admit it but the last footprint’s mine She was crying when i met her, she cries harder today So don’t blame her, life turned her that way So don’t blame her, life turned her that way

“On your wedding day”

Sung by Michael Mongon

“The banks of the Lee”

Sung by Nelly & Molly Joyce

When two lovers meet down beside the green bower When two lovers meet down beneath the green tree When Mary, fond Mary, declared to her lover quot; You have stolen my poor heart from the Banks of the Lee

I loved her very dearly, so true and sincerely There was no one in this wide world I loved better than she Every bush, every bower, every sweet Irish flower Reminds me of my Mary, on the banks of the Lee.

“Don’t stay out late, love, on the moorlands, my Mary Don’t stay out late, love, on the moorlands from me” How little was our notion when we parted on the ocean That we were forever parted from the Banks of the Lee

I will pluck her some roses, some blooming Irish roses I will pluck her some roses, the fairest that ever grew And I’ll leave them on the grave of my own true lovely Mary In that cold and silent churchyard where she sleeps ‘neath the dew

“The Boys Of Barr Na Sráid”

Sung by Martine McDonagh

Oh the town, it climbs the mountain and looks upon the sea At sleeping time or waking, ’tis there I’d long to be To walk again that kindly street, the place where life began And the Boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren

With cudgels stout they roamed about to hunt the dreólín we searched for birds in every furze from Litir to Dooneen we sang for joy beneath the sky, life held no print nor plan and the Boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren

And when the hills were bleeding and the rifles were aflame to the rebel homes of Kerry the Saxon stranger came but the men who dared the Auxies and to beat the Black-and-Tan The Boys of Barr Na Sráide who hunted for the wren

And here’s a toast to them tonight, the lads who laughed with me by the groves of Carham River or the slope of Bean ‘a Tí John Daly and Batt Andy and the Sheehans, Con and Dan and the Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren

And now they toil on foreign soil, for they have gone their way Deep in the heart of London town or over in Broadway And I am left to sing their deeds and praise them while I can Those Boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wren

And when the wheel of life runs down and peace comes over me Oh lay me down in that old town between the hills and sea I’ll take my sleep in those green fields, the place my life began Where those Boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wren

“The Irish Rover”

On the Fourth of July, 1806 We set sail from the sweet Cobh of Cork We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks For the Grand City Hall in New York ‘Twas a wonderful craft She was rigged fore and aft And oh, how the wild wind drove her She stood several blasts She had twenty seven masts And they called her The Irish Rover

We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags We had two million barrels of stones We had three million sides of old blind horses hides’ We had four million barrels of bones We had five million hogs six million dogs Seven million barrels of porter We had eight million barrels of old nanny goate tails In the hold of the Irish Rover

There was awl Mickey Coote Who played hard on his flute And the ladies lined up for a set He would tootle with skill For each sparkling quadrille Though the dancers were fluther’d and bet With his smart witty talk He was cock of the walk As he rolled the dames under and over They all knew at a glance When he took up his stance That he sailed in The Irish Rover

There was Barney McGee From the banks of the Lee There was Hogan from County Tyrone There was Johnny McGurk Who was scared stiff of work And a man from Westmeath called Malone There was Slugger O’Toole Who was drunk as a rule And Fighting Bill Tracy from Dover And your man, Mick McCann From the banks of the Bann Was the skipper of the Irish Rover

For a sailor its’ always a bother in life It’s so lonesome by night and by day That he longs for the shore and a charming young whore Who will melt all his troubles away Oh, the noise and the rout Swillin’ poiteen and stout For him soon the torment’s over Of the love of a maid he is never afraid An old salt from the Irish Rover

We had sailed seven years When the measles broke out And the ship lost its way in the fog And that whale of a crew Was reduced down to two Just myself and the Captain’s old dog Then the ship struck a rock Oh Lord! What a shock The bulkhead was turned right over Turned nine times around and the poor old dog was drowned (1,2,3!) I’m the last of The Irish Rover

“Van Dieman’s land”

Hold me now, oh hold me now Till this hour has gone around And I’m gone on the rising tide For to face Van Diemen’s land

It’s a bitter pill I swallow here To be rent from one so dear We fought for justice and not for gain But the magistrate sent me away

Now kings will rule and the poor will toil And tear their hands as they tear the soil But a day will come in this dawning age When an honest man sees an honest wage

Hold me now, oh hold me now Till this hour has gone around And I’m gone on the rising tide For to face Van Dieman’s land

Still the gunman rules and Widows pay A scarlett coat now a black beret They thought that blood and sacrifice Could out of death bring forth a life

“Little old wine Drinker”

Sung by Martine Mongon

I’m praying for a rain in California so the grapes can grow and they can make more wine and I’m sitting in a honky in Chicago With a broken heart and a woman on my mind.

I’ll ask the man behind the bar for the jukebox And the music takes me back to Tennessee And when they ask who’s the fool in the corner, crying I’ll say, little old wine drinker, me.

I came here last week from down in Nashville ‘Cause my baby left for Florida on a train I thought I’d get a job and just forget her But in Chicago a broken heary is still the same.

I’ll ask the man behind the bar for the jukebox And the music takes me back to Tennessee And when they ask who’s the fool in the corner, crying I’ll say, little old wine drinker, me…

“RÒISIN”

Sung by Jim O’Leary

It’s a long time now since first we met, when I was but a child I felt you were just mine alone and I loved you all the while dose days when I was O so young I could not understand why so many others loved you two and tried to take your hand,

O Roisin my Roisin I know you know just what I mean

And I feel loved and sadness when I think of you Roisin

Now down the years with words and songs my lovers reminisce I seat there thinking from in your dreams of this lady in the moon, yet today we will not ask what we want you to do, why do we hurt the ones we love and fade to love you too

“Will you go lassie go”

Oh, the summertime is coming’, and the trees are sweetly blooming, Where the wild mountain thyme Grows around the blooming heather

Will ye go, lassie, will ye go? And we’ll all go together to pick wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather. Will ye go, lassie, will ye go?

I will build my love a bower by yon pure crystal fountain and around it I will place all the flowers of the mountain.

If my true love e’er should leave me I would surely find another where the wild mountain thyme grows around the blooming heather.

Oh, the autumn-time is coming’, and the leaves are gently falling, Where the wild mountain thyme Grows around the blooming heather

“A Mothers love is a blessing”

A mother’s love is a blessing, No matter where you roam. Keep her while she’s living, You’ll miss her when she’s gone. Love her as in childhood, When feeble, old and grey, for you’ll never miss your mother’s love ’til she’s buried beneath the clay.

A mother’s love is a blessing, No matter where you roam. Keep her while she’s living, you’ll miss her when she’s gone. Love her as in childhood, When feeble, old and grey, for you’ll never miss a mother’s love ’til she’s buried beneath the clay.