Kilkelly, Ireland (song)
Encyclopedia
"Kilkelly, Ireland" is a song by Steven and Peter Jones. It tells the story of an Irish
emigrant to America through a series of letters from his father back in Kilkelly
. It has five verses covering the period between 1860 and 1890.
The Jones brothers based the song on letters from their great-great-grandfather, Bryan Hunt, to his son John, their great-grandfather. As Bryan was illiterate, the letters were actually written by the local schoolmaster, Patrick McNamara, who had been a friend of John's.
It has been covered by many artists, including Atwater-Donnelly
, The Dubliners
, Mick Moloney
, Seán Keane
, and Ciara Considine
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
emigrant to America through a series of letters from his father back in Kilkelly
Kilkelly
Kilkelly is a village in Kilmovee parish County Mayo, Ireland. It is just south of Knock International Airport, lying between the Airport and the town of Knock itself. The village is along the N17, a national primary road running between Galway and Sligo...
. It has five verses covering the period between 1860 and 1890.
The Jones brothers based the song on letters from their great-great-grandfather, Bryan Hunt, to his son John, their great-grandfather. As Bryan was illiterate, the letters were actually written by the local schoolmaster, Patrick McNamara, who had been a friend of John's.
It has been covered by many artists, including Atwater-Donnelly
Atwater-Donnelly
Atwater-Donnelly is a Rhode Island folk music group consisting of Aubrey Atwater, Elwood Donnelly, and occasionally other musicians and dancers. They have toured throughout the United States and internationally, playing guitar, banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, tin whistle, limberjack, and other...
, The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
, Mick Moloney
Mick Moloney
Michael "Mick" Moloney is a traditional Irish musician and scholar. Born in Limerick, County Limerick, he was an important figure on the Dublin folk-song revival in the 1960s. In 1973, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, Seán Keane
Seán Keane (singer)
Seán Keane is an Irish singer and musician, known for his distinctive sean-nós-style voice.-Background:Seán Keane was born in a small village called Caherlistrane near Tuam in County Galway into a musical family, including his renowned sister Dolores...
, and Ciara Considine
Ciara Considine
Ciara Considine is a musician known for her Celtic and folk music. She has toured throughout the world playing flute and piano, as well as other instruments, and singing....
.