Clare County Library: Songs of Clare

Martin Reidy, Tullaghaboy, Connolly (1901-1985)
Photo courtesy Pat Mackenzie The Long Song Singer: Martin Reidy of Tullaghaboy 1901-1985 by Tom Munnelly		Songs: Bright Emerald Isle of the Sea Bury Me in Yon Mountains Down by Mount Callan Side Drunkard's Dream, The Highland Mary Inniskillen Dragoons Kilkee Drowning, The Lismore Turkeys Mac and Shanahan Maid of Glencoe, The Maid of the Moorlough Shore Mary Cassidy My Father's Servant Boy Nell Flaherty's Drake New Year's Anthem Nora O'Neill O’Reilly from the County Kerry Peeler and the Goat Tangaloni, The True Lover’s Discussion, The Youth that Belonged to Milltown, The
Martin Reidy, a bachelor, lived with his dog and cat in the foothills of Mount Callan. His small farmhouse had neither running water nor electricity when we first visited in the 1970s and, in fact, was reduced to two rooms as the roof of the end room had collapsed. In a somewhat remote location, Martin relied completely on the travelling grocer's shop calling once a week. However, he was one of the most cheerful, happy and well adjusted people you could wish to meet. A man for the long songs, he loved to sing, to talk, and to discuss the old ways and the new. Songs were an important part of his life, and he once joked with us that he tried to teach his dog Topsy to sing in order to pass the songs on. Martin's lack of teeth can make understanding him a problem sometimes but persevere - you will get used to it and it's worth the effort. Taken from ‘Around the Hills of Clare: Songs and Recitations from the Jim Carroll and Pat Mackenzie Collection’ (2004) Musical Traditions Records MTCD331-2/Góilín Records 005-6.
Martin Reidy talks to Jim Carroll about ballads and songbooks:		Martin Reidy talks to Jim Carroll about good local singers etc:
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