Baptist Johnston (Planxty Johnson)
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Music in GIF Format
- Baptist Johnson, of Tully, was High Sheriff of County Monaghan in 1728 and M.P. for the borough of Monaghan from 1747-1753. He died in April 1753.
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Carolan's Draught
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John O'Connor (Planxty John O'Connor)
- Midi File (Single File Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Midi File (Full Arrangement)
Barry Taylor
- Music in GIF Format
- The lyrics (in Gaelic only) indicate John O'Connor was of Offaly and a young bachelor at the time the tune was composed. However, records indicate that Counselor John O'Connor died at the Battle of Aughrim - making the date too early for him to be the subject of the tune. Counsellor O'Connor's son Maurice succeeded him. There is no record of a brother named John, making the exact identity of the subject of the tune something of a mystery.
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Carolan's Quarrel With the Landlady
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Music in GIF Format
- This air has also been called The Bold Rover and The Lady of the Tavern and appears in three different variations, one in 3/4 time. The exact incident behind the song has not been recorded, but O'Sullivan suggests the landlady in question may have been Bridget Waldron, to whom he composed a short epigram. She was evidently a parsimonious sort. One day as Carolan sat playing the harp, he heard the butler unlocking the cellar door. When he asked the man for a cup of beer the man refused, saying he would offer nothing without orders from the landlady. The English translation is as follows:
What pity hell's gates are not kept by O'Flinn!
So surly a dog would let nobody in.
Or in exact translation
Alas, O Dermod O'Flinn,
That 'tis not you who guard the door of hell;
For 'tis you would let no one approach you
In a place where you would be doorkeeper.
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Miss MacDermott (Princess Royal)
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Midi File (Full Arrangement)
Barry Taylor
- Music in GIF Format
- Princess Royal was possibly composed for Mrs. Mary O'Rourke (also the subject of Mrs. O'Rourke). She was the eldest daughter of MacDermott, Prince of Coolavin. Another possible subject of the tune is Elizabeth MacDermott Roe (the subject of another tune - specifically named for her).
The tune is widely known partially because Shield set the tune to the words The Arethusa to it at the end of the 18th century. The Arethusa appeared in a small opera "The Lock and Key" in 1796. The words describe an encounter between two ships, the Arethusa and La Belle Poule, in the English Channel, June 17, 1778.
On deck five hundred men did dance,
The stoutest they could find in France
On board of the Arethusa
Our captain hailed the Frenchman, "Ho!'
The Frenchman then creid out, 'Hallo!'
'Bear down, d'ye see, to our Admiral's lee'
'No, no,' says the Frenchman, 'that can't be.'
'Then I must lug you along with me,'
Says the saucy Arethusa.
(See the link in the paragraph above for all the lyrics)
The tune was also set to a poem in praise of the Irish language in 1901. The poem is sometimes wrongly attributed to Carolan.
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Ode to Whiskey
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Midi File (Full Arrangement)
Barry Taylor
- Music in GIF Format
- Although the tune is typical of Carolan's style O'Sullivan states there is doubt as to whether or not it is actually a Carolan tune.
Lyrics (metrical translattion by John D'Alton)
Why, liquor of life! do I loveyou so,
When in all our encounters you lay me low?
More stupid and senseless I every day grow,
What a hint - if I'd mend by the warning
Tattered and torn you've left my coat,
I've not a cravat - to save my throat,
Yet I pardon you all, my sparkling doat,
If you'll cheer me again in the morning.
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Lament for Sir Ulick Burke
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- This tune was composed upon the death of Sir Ulick Burke in 1708. Sir Ulick Burke was the 3rd baronet, son of Sir Edmund Burke an grandson of Ulick Burke, Esq who was given the title by Charles I on August 2, 1628. Sir Ulick suppored King James II and was included in the Articles of Limrick. He married the daughter of John Kelly of Skreen, County Roscommon, who is probably the subject of a tune by that name. Sir Ulick died without issue and was succeeded by his half-brother.
- The verses were purportedly composed by Carolan on his way to Glinsk, the seat if Sir Ulick Burke, but on his way bad weather forced him to stop at Glengavlen, County Cavan). There, a severe snow storm forced his stay in poor circumstance for several days. He composed several verses of the tune "Sir Ulick Burke" there. By the time Carolan arrived at Glinsk Sir Ulick was dead and buried. Lady Burke decided not to inform Carolan of Sir Ulick's death. After some days of rest Carolan sat to sing the tune he'd begun to compose. The staff gathered around him broke down in tears and, in spite of orders, told Carolan of Sir Ulick's death. Carolan thereupon completed "Sir Ulick Burke" and probably wrote the Lament shortly after.
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Mrs. Maxwell, First Air
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
- Midi File (Full Arrangement)
From
Ancient and Modern Songs of Ireland for Piano
See bibliography for full information.
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Music in GIF Format
- This tune has also been referred to as Madam Maxwell. The subject is the daughter of James Barry, of Newtown Barry, County Wexford. Judith was baptized on December 11, 1699 and in June 1719 married John Maxwell of Farnham, County Cavan. Her husband was the son of the rector of Derrynoose, County Armaugh, M.P. for Cavan from 1727 to 1759 and was High Sherriff there in 1739. On the death of his cousin he became Baron Farnham on May 6, 1756. So Judith Maxwell, aka Mrs. Maxwell, became Lady Farnham. She died on April 15, 1771 in Dublin.
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Lord Inchiquin
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Midi File (Full Arrangement)
Barry Taylor
- Music in GIF Format
- The 4rth Earl of Inchiquin succeeded to the title on December 24, 1919 and died in 1777. Carolan visited Rev. Charles Massey at Doonass which is close to the family seat at Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare. It is likely the tune was composed at that time.
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Carolan's Farewell to Music
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Carolan, sensing the end was near, traveled back to Mrs. MacDermott. "I have come here after all I have gone through, to die at home at last, where I got my first schooling and my first horse." he said (Mundey-O'Reilling manuscript pp 147--149 quoted in O'Neill p 100). He retired to bed, eventually too weak even to raise himself up after falling out of bed. After falling out of his bed Carolan said, "I would not be surprised at a man falling when walking, but it is a great surprise for a man to fall when lying down." Toward the end Carolan woke from sleep and asked the butler, William Flynn for a drink. After drinking he spoke:
I duly travelled round through Conn's territory
And I found (?) mighty and vigorous there.
By my baptism, for dispensing [drink] I never found
One who quenched my thirst aright but William Flynn.
They were the last words Carolan spoke. He died Saturday, March 25, 1738 at the age of 68, and was buried in the O'Duigenans' church of Kilronan.
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Hugh O'Donnell
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Midi File (Full Arrangement)
Barry Taylor
- Hugh O'Donnell, of Newport, County Mayo was the son of Col. Manus O'Donnell (the subject of another of Carolan's tunes). He was married to Maude Browne of County Mayo in 1728. The tune is also known as Planxty O'Donnell.
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Sir Festus Burke
- Midi File (Single Line Melody)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
- Midi File (Full Arrangement)
Lesley Nelson-Burns
From
Ancient and Modern Songs of Ireland for Piano
See bibliography for full information.
- Sir Festus (Feiagh) Burke was the 5th Baronet of Glinsk, County Galway. He succeeded his father to the title on July 4, 1721. On November 23, 1708 he married Laeticia (subject of Lady Letitia Burke and was half brother to Sir Ulick Burke, subject of another of Carolan's tunes. Sir Festus died without issue.
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