Singing Songs of Ballyknockan

Artwork: Beatrice O’Connell

Full title: The Hills above the Valley [CD]

Creator / Author: Barry Kinane. Words and music by Barry Kinane except music for ‘Ballyknockan Band Reel’ by Paul Kelly and music for Track 10 by Kinane / Kelly.

Item Type / Count: Music CD / 10 tracks

When Published: 2017

Publisher / Place of Publication: Barry Kinane / [Ballyknockan, Co. Wicklow?]

About: This is an album of Ballyknockan songs writen and performed by Ballyknockan native, Barry (Bat) Kinane. The songs incorporate historical facts and stories from the surrounding neighbourhood and present aspects of local and social history in an accessible and enjoyable format.   

ID number(s): None

Contents [Track listing]: Where the Brook Waters Flow — Cock a Hoof – Mary – The Ballyknockan Band / Ballyknockan Band Reel — Ballinahown – Mrs O’s Delight / Mrs O’s Delight Reel – Madonna and the Lion – A Stonecutters Journey – Biddy Mulvey & the Landgrabber — The Hills above the Valley.

Extra #1: Link to the artist’s page on bandcamp

Extra #2: The song ‘Mary’ (Track 3) won the Sean McCarthy Memorial Traditional Irish Ballad Competition in 2014.

Seán Ó Sé – The Singing Teacher

© The Publisher

Full title: An Poc ar Buile: the life & Times of Seán Ó Sé

Creator / Author: Seán Ó Sé with Patricia Ahern

Item Type / Page count: Book / 196p [also available as an e-book]

When Published: 2015

Publisher / Place of Publication: The Collins Press / West Link Park, Doughcloyne, Wilton, Cork.

About: The Cork-born author, a teacher by profession, achieved fame as a singer with Séan Ó Riada and Ceoltóirí Chualann when he recorded the traditional Irish language song ‘An Poc ar Buile’. His singing spanned over 60 years and became for him a passport to world travel. He retired from teaching in 1993. This book is his life story.

ID number(s): 9781848892538

Chapters: Foreword – Prologue – A child of war and peace – Coláiste Íosagáin – St. Pat’s – Baltinglass – A time of sorrow – Warner’s Lane – The Red City – The singer – Séan Ó Riada and Ceoltóirí Chualann – A true friend – Farewell to Séan – Love and loss – St. Mary’s on the Hill – At home and abroad – The Sightseers – A battle with cancer – Back on track – The parting word – Acknowledgements – Index.

WW Connection #1: Seán Ó Sé commenced his teaching career in Baltinglass in West Wicklow and a short chapter of this book recalls this time in his life.

Extra #1: Includes dozens of monochrome and colour photographs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

No Sound Like the Hollywood Sound

© Tara Music

Full title: Holly Wood

Creator / Author: The Voice Squad

Item Type / Count: Music CD / 13 tracks

When Published: 1988 (re-issued in 1991)

Publisher / Place of Publication: Tara Music Company / Basement, 18 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2.

About: St. Kevin’s Church in Hollywood in West Wicklow is over 1000 years old and was used as a venue for the ‘Music Under the Mountains Festival’ in 1991. The Voice Squad sang there and found the natural sound quality of the church to be the best they had ever come across. They returned  later and recorded most of this disc there. The Voice Squad are a three-piece vocal group who sing ballads unaccompanied in the old traditional manner.

ID number(s): TARACD 4013

Contents [Track listing]: The Coventry Carol — The Cocks are Crowing – The Sheepstealers — A Stor Mo Chroí — Jimmy Murphy — I am Stretched on your Grave — Good People All (Wexford Carol) — The Brown and The Yellow Ale — Sarah Jane — Down in Yon Forest — A Fond Kiss — Annan Waters — The Parting Glass.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this recording.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this recording in libraries worldwide

Tenor from Tinahely named Troy

© The Publisher

Full title: Dermot Troy – Shine Through My Dreams

Creator / Author: Liam Gaul

Item Type / Page count: Magazine Article / 2pp

Journal Information: Ireland’s Own Magazine, Harvest Annual, pp. 41-42

When Published: 8^th August 2003

Publisher / Place of Publication: Ireland’s Own / Channing House, Rowe Street, Wexford.

About: This is the third part of a series of articles called ‘Giants of Irish Music’. It is a brief page and a half overview of the life of the tenor, Dermot Troy, who did not study music until he was 22 years old, but regrettably died from a heart attack at the age of thirty-five.

WW Connection #1: Dermot Troy was born in Tinahely in South West Wicklow.

Extra #1: Includes four black & white photographs.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide

Tinahely Tenor’s Top Twenty +

© cdworld.ie

Full title: Dermot Troy – Remembered

Creator / Author: Dermot Troy

Item Type / Count: Music CD / 24 tracks

When Published: 2007

Publisher / Place of Publication: RTÉ / Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

About: This is a music compact disc issued on the RTÉ Lyric FM label. The lyric tenor Dermot Troy had a brief but remarkable life. He did not study music until he was 22 years old, but regrettably died from a heart attack at the age of thirty-five. In the intervening years he shared a stage with the likes of Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland and Elizabeth Schwartzkopf and has come to be regarded as second only to Count John McCormack.

ID number(s): RTELYRICCD114

Contents [Track listing]: Lament for Owen Roe — An Piobaire — The Enchanted Valley — Padraic the Fidler — The Gentle Maiden — She is Far From the Land — The Last Rose of Summer — Believe Me if all These — At the Mid Hour of the Night — The Minstrel Boy — Rase, Schiksal [from Zaide] — Herr Und Freund [from Zaide] — Standhen — Ich Liebe Dich — Gern Hab Ich Die Frauen — Core ‘ ngrato — Funiculi, Funicula — L’Ultima Canzone — Marechiare — Love Could I Only Tell Thee — Rose of Picardy — Home, Sweet Home — Shine Through My Dreams — As I Sit Here.

WW Connection #1: Dermot Troy was born in Tinahely in South West Wicklow.

Extra #1: includes CD insert booklet with much biographical information and photographs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide