“Early Classic BalladsIn The Irish Song Tradition”

Jerry O’ReillyAn Góilín Traditional Singers Club

National Library of Ireland

26th November 2014

Francis James Child - 1825 - 1895, was the son of a Boston sail maker. Child's family was poor and he attended Boston Grammar School and the English High School, Boston's public schools. It was only through the generosity of Epes Sargent Dixwell, the principal of the Boston Latin School, who recognized Child's genius, that Child was able to enter Harvard. In 1851 he was named the Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory - and held the position for 25 years. Throughout his tenure at Harvard he collected ballad books in many languages and corresponded with scholars throughout the world in several languages.

Francis James Child

All of the songs today are included in Child's seminal five volume collection entitled The English and Scottish Popular Ballads which was published in Cambridge Massachusetts between the years (1882-1898) and which is considered by many as the "canon" of folk music. Scholarly works refer to "Child Ballads" by number. For instance, Child 2 = The Elfin Knight, Child 12 = Lord Randal, etc. The collection consists of exhaustive research on 305 ballads. Unlike earlier scholars, Child's research focused primarily on manuscripts of ballads rather than printed versions. Child also investigated and collected songs and stories in other languages that were related to the English and Scottish ballads. Child's research was international in scope, covering thirty-seven languages.

Tom Munnelly

Tom Munnelly

Born Dublin 1944 - died Miltown Malbay 2007Singer and amateur collector whilst living in Dublin in

the 1960’s.Became a professional folklore collector for a pilot

project with Dept. of Education 1971. together with Sean Corcoran, Micheál Ó Domhnaill.

Project subsequently taken over by Dept. of Folklore UCD – Tom as sole collector of English language song.

Moved to Miltown Malbay County Clare 1978. Chair of the Willie Clancy Summer School 1984-1991.

Founding Chair of the ITMA (Irish Traditional Music Archive).

Lectured extensively at home and abroad. Collected in excess of 17,000 pieces of folklore. `Early Ballads in Ireland` – presents 21 ballads

recorded between 1968 and 1985Awarded Honourary PHD NUIG 2007

A book of his presentations and lectures entitled “The singing will never be done” was published in

August 2014

Dr. Hugh Shields

Dr. Hugh Shields

Born Belfast 1929 – died Dublin 2008Senior lecturer in French Trinity College Dublin.

He became an authority on Irish traditional song and had an International reputation as a ballad scholar.

Tom Munnelly said of him “By far the greatest, most erudite scholar in this country in the field of

traditional song in English”.Collected extensively with particular emphasis on the

Northern counties.

Published - `Narrative Singing in Ireland`:Lays, Ballads, Come-All-Yes and Other Songs, in 1993 and

`Tunes of the Munster Pipers` Vol.1 in 1998. (Vol.2 pub 2013)

Collaborated with Tom Munnelly in the publication of `Early Ballads in Ireland`.

Collected from Eddie Butcher from Coleraine starting in 1953 up to Eddie’s death in1980.

Published recordings of Eddie Butcher in `Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle`.

Hugh Shields and Tom Munnelly, 1979.

Nora Cleary and Tom Munnelly

Fair Margaret and Sweet William

Lamkin

John Ban Byrne and Hugh Shields in Malinbeg in 1981

Little Sir Hugh

Cecilia Costello

Cecilia Costello (nee Kelly) was born in White Lion Yard, 8 Dean Place, Pershore Street behind

the Bull Ring in Birmingham on October 24th 1884.

She was the youngest of 10 children, 5 boys and 5 girls.

Her mother (Margaret Kelly - nee Higgins) was from Galway and her father Edward Costello was from Roscommon. They came over from Ireland

to escape starvation, along with others by the boatload!

Lord Randal

The Baffled Knight