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Upload - Traveller Singers

Upload - Traveller Singers

I didn't want to subsume these uploads into my previous posting as they're more than worthy of attention in their own right. All were recorded by Peter Kennedy and date from the early 1950s. The use of 'tinker' in their titles, is his, not mine.

The first, 'Blackwaterside', was recorded in Belfast in 1952 and features Mary Doran, Winnie Ryan and Lal Smith (aged 21, 19 and 23 respectively). The download link's http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?vrjmzwmnwdj and a full track listing is available at http://folktrax-archive.org/menus/cassprogs/166tinkers1.htm.

Next comes 'When I Was on Horseback', again recorded in Belfast in 1952 and with the same set of singers, plus two older women, Anne O'Neill and Mary Connors. The download's http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ntmm5ducgqx and the track listing's at http://folktrax-archive.org/menus/cassprogs/167tinkers2.htm.

Lastly, there's 'Puck Fair' - http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?lhekwtnnig0 - and we're still in Belfast in 1952, but the singers are Mary Connors, Christy Purcell and Paddy Doran. The listing's at http://folktrax-archive.org/menus/cassprogs/168tinkers3.htm. Since Paddy and Mary Doran came from Wexford he must have been related to the pipers Johnny and Felix.

There've been relatively few recordings of Travellers singing so these are well worth downloading.

# Posted on October 31st 2009 by Floss the Tethers

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

http://www.paveepoint.ie/
http://www.paveepoint.ie/publications-culture.html

Thanks for more valued ear training, much appreciated...

# Posted on October 31st 2009 by ceolachan

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Very interesting material, especially with the information from Folktrax. Excellent. Thank you.

# Posted on November 1st 2009 by Stuporman

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

A hard road indeed, thanks Floss

# Posted on November 1st 2009 by bazouki dave

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

A mate of mine over here is a Doran, wagon 'n all. I'll be sharing this with him. Great upload.

# Posted on November 1st 2009 by Patkiwi

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Floss - Thanks for the upload. Vital stuff.

# Posted on November 1st 2009 by Jim Younger

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Wach out for Ron Kavana's new 'Songs of the Travellers' cd, coming soon...

# Posted on November 1st 2009 by banjoburger

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Anyone interested in more recordings of Travellers' song would be well advised to look out for the following (in addition to the Pavee Point link provided above - thanks C.).

1) 'From Puck to Appleby' - recordings of Irish Travellers in London, available from Musical Traditions - http://www.mustrad.org.uk/records.htm.

2) Anything by Margaret Barry or Pecker Dunne.

3) The wonderful John 'Jacko' Reilly whose 'The Bonny Green Tree' has sadly never been reissued by Topic. There's also a Kennedy tape, recorded by Tom Munnelly, called 'The Rosin Box'.

4) There's also the Saydisc CD 'Songs of the Travelling People' which mainly features singers from Scotland, but also has Margaret Barry, Paddy Doran and Frank O'Connor.

5) Lastly, there's an old Lyrichord album from the 1960s called 'Travelling People of Ireland' which I've never seen.

# Posted on November 1st 2009 by Floss the Tethers

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Margaret Barry:
"Portraits: I Sang Through the Fairs"
http://www.rounder.com/index.php?id=album.php&catalog_id=4994

# Posted on November 1st 2009 by Random_notes

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Champion!

# Posted on November 2nd 2009 by Snail

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Thanks Floss

# Posted on November 2nd 2009 by mutatis mutandis

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

# Posted on November 2nd 2009 by Bob himself

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Thank you!

# Posted on November 2nd 2009 by fuzzygreen

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

Wild and interesting stuff. Thanks again Floss.

# Posted on November 2nd 2009 by bigyabby

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

cheers Mr Floss..!

# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by peter wsll

Re: Upload - Traveller Singers

"The first, 'Blackwaterside', was recorded in Belfast in 1952 and features Mary Doran, Winnie Ryan and Lal Smith (aged 21, 19 and 23 respectively). " Floss.
Thanks for this, great stuff. I wonder if Mary Doran could be one of Johnny Doran's daughters? The age would be right. Fine singing.

# Posted on November 3rd 2009 by Steamwilkes

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