Fire Draw Near

Part II of the Wild Rover Podcast looks at what happened to the song over the first 300 years of its existence as it spread from England to Scotland, North America and Australia, where it began to evolve into something resembling the version that we all know today. Featuring performances from Marshall Morris the Travelling Woodsman of the Fosseway, Cormac Dermody, Paul Denman, Beanie Entwistle, Ma...

Episode XIII takes a look at Irish songs of social protest including my favourite unnapreciated sub-genre of republican ballads. Also includes part three of Lomax Does Ireland, an in depth look at Alan Lomax's seminal collecting trip to Ireland in 1951. Tracklist: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Ultan O’Brien - All Our Lonely Ghosts Liam Weldon – Dark Horse on the Wind Dé Danann – Rights of Man / Pride o...

The Wild Rover Part I looks at the historical and sociological background of 17th century England; a culture which gave rise to a body of song known as the Alehouse Ballads. It was from this group of ballads that the song which was to become the Wild Rover emerged from in the year 1678. Featuring performances from Cormac Dermody, Adrian Edwards, Paul Denman, Beanie Entwistle, Joe Yorke, Radie Peat...

Episode XII looks at the song Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye, exploring it's origins as well as musical precursors dating back to an English country dance published in 1651 and forward in time to Metallica's 1988 breakthrough single One. Also featured is the second installment of Lomax Does Ireland, as well as two widely differing versions of Scottish tune, The Flowers of Edinburgh. Tracklist: Latitude 3...

Episode XI. This episode features the first of a new segment looking at Alan Lomax's seminal 1951 Irish collecting trip. Alongside this are songs from Planxty, Marlais, Sarah Ghriallais, Frank Harte, Séamus Ennis, Elizabeth 'Bess' Cronin, as well as some of the earliest recordings of Irish music. Tracklist: Planxty – The Raggle Taggle Gypsies / Tabhair Dom do Lámh Marlais – Meeting is a Pleasure S...

Episode X looks at the Child ballads in Ireland. Tracklist: Al O’Donnell – Lord Abore and Mary Flynn Mary Baylon – Johnny Scott John Reilly – The Well Below the Valley Dónal Maguire – The Grey Cock Elizabeth Cronin – Lord Gregory Tom Lenihan – The Holland Handkerchief Mary Delaney – Buried in Kilkenny Martin Howley – The Old Armchair Frank Harte – Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship Lisa O’Neill – The...

Episode IX looks at the practice of keening (ag caoineadh) in Ireland as well as some sea shanties and other bits and pieces from the forgotten strange wilderness on the edge/centre of the Irish Tradition. Tracklist: Seán Potts and Paddy Moloney – Julia Delaney Johnny McDonagh / Seán ‘ac Dhonncha – Morrissey and the Russian Sailor Pat Mitchell – The Concertina Reel Mícheál Quinn – The Dark Eyed Gy...

Episode VIII looks at the heartwarming and sometimes grisly world of traditional children's songs. Tracklist: The Deadlians - Newcastle Frank Harte – Gough’s Immortal Statue The Clancy Children – Are You Ready for a War? Swan Arcade – The Bright Shining Morning Eoin Dillon – Codladh Sámh Jimmy O’Dea – Rathgar Leo Rowsome – My Darling Asleep / Whelan’s Jig Ewan MacColl and Dominic Behan – Singing G...

Episode VII. Various songs and tunes from the forgotten strange wilderness on the edge/centre of the Irish Tradition. Tracklist: Luke Kelly – The Hot Asphalt Paul Robeson – Kevin Barry Peter Browne – Fountain’s Hornpipe / Gan Ainm Joe Heaney – Amhrán na hEascainne Ewan MacColl and A.L. Lloyd – Paddy Doyle / Whiskey Johnny Ewan MacColl – Queen Eleanor’s Confession Paddy Keenan – O’Neill’s March The...

Episode VI looks at the piper Patsy Tuohey and the song Darling Nelly Grey, which spawned another song in the docks of Liverpool before winding up in the Jamaican mento tradition. Tracklist: Dónal Maguire – Heenan and Sayers Helen Diamond – The Sea Apprentice Patsy Touhey- The Steampacket / The Morning Star / Miss MacLeod’s Reel Patsy Touhey – The Shaskeen Reel Alan Woods – The Widow of Westmorela...

Episode V looks at a shared musical link between Ireland and the Caribbean. Tracklist: Mary Fuller – Oh What a Life Seán Potts and Paddy Moloney – Did You Wash Your Father’s Shirt / The Mountain Top Barry Gleeson – My Darling Old Bit of a Stick Bernard Delaney – The Beauty Spot Elizabeth Cronin – Little Pack of Tailors / What Would You Do? Séamus Ennis – Kitty Lie Over Brian O’Rourke – Drumsnot Th...

Episode IV - A look at accumulative songs and more from a van in the USA. Tracklist: Thomas Moran – The Boat that First Brought Me Over Sheila Smith – Father Pray Build me a Boat Séamus Ennis – First You Must Learn the Grip Jimmy O’Brien Moran – James Bourke’s / Fraher’s Tom Lenihan – Bonny Boy in Blue Jerry O’Reilly – Lovers and Friends Johnny Doherty – The Coolin Bridget Fitzgerald – An Seanduin...

Episode III is a Valentine's Day special that wades through the filthiest songs in the Irish Traditional repertoire. Tracklist: Fergus Russell – 50 Shades of Grey Brian O’Rourke – Carnations Planxty – Junior Crehan’s Favourite / Corney is Coming Florrie Forde – Hold Your Hand Out Naughty Boy Nora Cleary – The Little Ball of Yarn Walter Pardon - The Little Ball of Yarn Derek Bell – Hungarian Folk D...

Episode II looks at a musical motif that started off life in Scotland, made its way over to Ireland as a piping tune then travelled to America before ending up being recorded by anarcho punk band the Subhumans. Tracklist: Planxty Fanny Power Rosie Stewart – Bunch of Damned Whores Elizabeth Crotty – Touch me if you Dare / Morning Star Nora Cleary – The Holland Handkerchief Paddy in the Smoke - The...

Episode I looks at the folk motif that connects an Irish Traveller song, an obscure uilleann piping tune and a song by London Oi merchants Cock Sparrer. Tracklist: Willie Clancy – The Connaught Heifers / Corney is Coming Jimmy Crowley – The Pool Song Neillidh Boyle – The Moving Clouds talk and tune Séamus Ennis – I’ll mend your pots and kettles O! John Reilly Jr. – The Jolly Tinker Cock Sparrer –...