Arthur Warren Darley
Encyclopedia
Arthur Warren Darley was an Irish Fiddle player, composer, music teacher and examiner as well as a traditional music archivist.
Arthur Warren Darley was born in Dun laoghaire and first lived in Silchester Road. He was a grandnephew of poet George Darley
. His father Henry Warren Darley had converted to Catholicism.
In 1923 he purchased a house in Northumberland Road, Dublin. His family was musical both in traditional and classical. His grandfather played the uilleann pipes and fiddle, his father played fiddle and viola and Arthur played fiddle and piano. Arthur was playing the fiddle well at 8 years of age. He was a fellow in The College of Violinists, London, Professor of Leinster School of Music & Drama
, Director of the municipal School of Music, and was deeply interested in Irish Music. He met Patrick Joseph McCall who spent much of his time in Wexford
. Together they collected old tunes and Ossian Publications published them.
Arthur was also a church organist who spent some time as a Church of Ireland
organist near Bruckless, Co. Donegal, where he spent some time with the great Donegal fiddler, John Doherty
. His son Arthur Darley Jnr was a guitarist who featured on some early recordings of Irish music.
It was Patrick Joseph McCall
who composed the famous Wexford Ballads and Arthur Darley put the music to them – "The Boys of Wexford
", "Boolavogue
and "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".
He was President of the Irish Music Club and as one of the founders of the Feis Ceoil
Association. the Arthur Darley Memorial prize is awarded to violinists at the annual music festival. He was the first musical director of the Abbey Theatre
following its foundation in 1904 in which he played an active part.
Arthur Darley: pen and ink drawing by Grace Gifford
. "Darley, a well-known Irish musician, played before performances and between acts, standing at the edge of the stage in front of the curtain."
Darley supported the nationalist cause in the War of Independence and Bruckless House provided shelter for republican leaders.
Seán T. O'Kelly
who would become Ireland's second president wrote on his death in The Nation
. about his contribution to Ireland and Irish music.
As a result of his involvement in the war of independence, and nationalism (he performed at many Easter 1916 commemorations in the Theatre Royal), an obituary for Arthur Warren Darley featured in the Republican newspaper An Phoblacht
in 1930.
His obituary also featured in The Musical Times
in February 1930.
The English poet Leonard Strong
wrote a poem about Arthur Darley.
Trinity College Dublin library contains the archives Arthur Darley's personal and family papers.
Arthur Warren Darley was born in Dun laoghaire and first lived in Silchester Road. He was a grandnephew of poet George Darley
George Darley
George Darley was an Irish poet, novelist, and critic.He was born in Dublin, and educated at Trinity College. Having decided to follow a literary career, in 1820 he went to London, where he published his first poem, Errors of Ecstasie . He also wrote for the London Magazine, under the pseudonym of...
. His father Henry Warren Darley had converted to Catholicism.
In 1923 he purchased a house in Northumberland Road, Dublin. His family was musical both in traditional and classical. His grandfather played the uilleann pipes and fiddle, his father played fiddle and viola and Arthur played fiddle and piano. Arthur was playing the fiddle well at 8 years of age. He was a fellow in The College of Violinists, London, Professor of Leinster School of Music & Drama
Leinster School of Music & Drama
The Leinster School of Music & Drama provides tuition and examinations in music and drama throughout Ireland."She beckoned to him with her finger like one preparing a certificate in pianoforte...at the Leinster School of Music." -History:...
, Director of the municipal School of Music, and was deeply interested in Irish Music. He met Patrick Joseph McCall who spent much of his time in Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
. Together they collected old tunes and Ossian Publications published them.
Arthur was also a church organist who spent some time as a Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
organist near Bruckless, Co. Donegal, where he spent some time with the great Donegal fiddler, John Doherty
John Doherty
John Doherty may refer to:*John Doherty , senior executive in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation*John Doherty , first baseman for the Angels, 1974–1975...
. His son Arthur Darley Jnr was a guitarist who featured on some early recordings of Irish music.
It was Patrick Joseph McCall
Patrick Joseph McCall
Patrick Joseph McCall was an Irish songwriter and poet, known mostly as the author of lyrics for popular ballads: "Follow me up to Carlow", "The Boys of Wexford", "Boolavogue, The Lowlands Low and "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".The Wexford ballads dealing with the 1798 Rising were put to music by...
who composed the famous Wexford Ballads and Arthur Darley put the music to them – "The Boys of Wexford
The Boys of Wexford
"The Boys of Wexford" is a famous Irish ballad commemorating the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The ballad was lyrics were composed by Patrick Joseph McCall and music by Arthur Warren Darley, who also composed other wexford ballads "Boolavogue", "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".-Lyrics::We are the boys of...
", "Boolavogue
Boolavogue (song)
"Boolavogue" is a famous Irish ballad commemorating the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was composed by Patrick Joseph McCall in 1898, for the centenary of the Rebellion issued Irish Noíníns ....
and "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".
He was President of the Irish Music Club and as one of the founders of the Feis Ceoil
Feis Ceoil
Feis Ceoil is an annual Irish cultural festival of music and dance. It was first organized in 1897 by Dr. Annie Patterson and Edward Martyn. It consisted of competitions for performance and composition and was supported by all musicians of the day, both national and classical...
Association. the Arthur Darley Memorial prize is awarded to violinists at the annual music festival. He was the first musical director of the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
following its foundation in 1904 in which he played an active part.
Arthur Darley: pen and ink drawing by Grace Gifford
Grace Gifford
Grace Evelyn Gifford Plunkett was an Irish artist and cartoonist who was active in the Republican movement...
. "Darley, a well-known Irish musician, played before performances and between acts, standing at the edge of the stage in front of the curtain."
Darley supported the nationalist cause in the War of Independence and Bruckless House provided shelter for republican leaders.
Seán T. O'Kelly
Sean T. O'Kelly
Seán Thomas O'Kelly was the second President of Ireland . He was a member of Dáil Éireann from 1918 until his election as President. During this time he served as Minister for Local Government and Minister for Finance...
who would become Ireland's second president wrote on his death in The Nation
The Nation (Irish newspaper)
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in the 19th century. The Nation was printed first at 12 Trinity Street, Dublin, on 15 October 1842, until 6 January 1844...
. about his contribution to Ireland and Irish music.
As a result of his involvement in the war of independence, and nationalism (he performed at many Easter 1916 commemorations in the Theatre Royal), an obituary for Arthur Warren Darley featured in the Republican newspaper An Phoblacht
An Phoblacht
An Phoblacht is the official newspaper of Sinn Féin in Ireland. It is published once a month, and according to its website sells an average of up to 15,000 copies every month and was the first Irish paper to provide an edition online and currently having in excess of 100,000 website hits per...
in 1930.
His obituary also featured in The Musical Times
The Musical Times
The Musical Times is an academic journal of classical music edited and produced in the United Kingdom. It is currently the oldest such journal that is still publishing in the UK, having been published continuously since 1844. It was published as The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular until...
in February 1930.
The English poet Leonard Strong
Leonard Strong
Leonard Alfred George Strong was an English writer, known as a novelist, journalist, poet and director of the publishers Methuen Ltd.- Life :...
wrote a poem about Arthur Darley.
Trinity College Dublin library contains the archives Arthur Darley's personal and family papers.
Compositions
- "Over the Hills to Runbush"
- "The Boys of WexfordThe Boys of Wexford"The Boys of Wexford" is a famous Irish ballad commemorating the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The ballad was lyrics were composed by Patrick Joseph McCall and music by Arthur Warren Darley, who also composed other wexford ballads "Boolavogue", "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".-Lyrics::We are the boys of...
" by Darley & McCall - "BoolavogueBoolavogue (song)"Boolavogue" is a famous Irish ballad commemorating the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was composed by Patrick Joseph McCall in 1898, for the centenary of the Rebellion issued Irish Noíníns ....
" by Darley & McCall - "Kelly the Boy from Killanne" by Darley & McCall
- "Drocketty's March" by Darley & McCall
- "Lady and the Farmer" by Darley & McCall
- "Bruckless Shore" his name for the "Swedish Jig"/"Arthur Darley's Jig"
- "Cloch na Ceithre Mhile (The Four Mile Stone)" by Arthur Darley