4. THE BAND PLAYED SWEET MARIE (CD Single) (Reg Meuross)
5. ALL THE FINE YOUNG MEN (Home)
(Eric Bogle)
6. LEAVING THE BLASKET (Sailing Away)
(Janet Dowd)
7. LIGHTHOUSE (Home)
(Josh Cunningham)
8. DANNY BOY (Sailing Away)
(Words by Frederick Weatherly/Trad Arr Janet Dowd)
9. SIMPLE LIFE (Home)
(Janet Dowd)
10. ONE HUNDRED MILES (Sailing Away)
(Chris While)
11. DINGLE BAY (300 Miles)
(Trad Arr Janet Dowd)
12. FRIEND TO ME (Sailing Away)
(Janet Dowd)
13. FORBIDDEN LOVE (Home)
(Janet Dowd)
14. COUNTY DOWN (Home)
(Tommy Sands)
INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE SONGS...
JOHN CONDON
Private John Condon (No. 6322) of 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment came from Waterford in Ireland. He is believed to have been the youngest soldier killed in the Great War of 1914-18, he was 14 years old. He arrived on the Western Front in March 1915 and 2 months later he was killed by a German gas attack. His grave is in Poelcapple Military Cemetery in Belgium. The song was written by Sam Starrett (who has sadly since passed away), his partner Tracey McRory and Richard Laird after they visited the battlefields of Flanders and also John Condons grave in 2001.
I recorded this on my debut album, '300 Miles' in 2009 and the fabulous Mr Richard Digance made it the Number 1 song of the year on his radio show on BBC Radio Devon.
THE BAND PLAYED SWEET MARIE
Written by Reg Meuross, the song tells a tragic love story about Wallace Hartley (known for leading the eight member band as the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912) and his fiancee Maria Robinson. It is said that on that fateful night as the ship went down, Wallace is believed to have played 'Nearer my God the Thee' before strapping his violin to his body as he slipped into the icy water to his death. The violin was a gift from his sweetheart Maria to mark their engagement.
LEAVING THE BLASKET
During a visit to the stunning Great Blasket island in Co.Kerry, I was inspired to write this song after reading the extremely moving stories of life on this remote island and the final decision to re-home the islanders on the mainland. With a combination of extreme weather conditions cutting them off from the mainland for weeks at a time, numbers dwindling due to emigration and turf supplies becoming scarce, there was no choice but to leave. In 1953 the remaining 22 inhabitants of the Great Blasket were re-settled in the parish of Dunquin on the Dingle Peninsula with help from local government. From their new homes they could gaze across the Blasket Sound, a 3 mile stretch of treacherous sea, at their beloved island.
A SIMPLE LIFE
I wrote this song after reaching another milestone age when I began to appreciate what I have and the beauty of life around me. This advancing age also has other perks...I can be more opinionated (also known as 'set in my ways'), I don't have to pretend to like things just because they are challenging (no more shark wrestling for me) and finally, my unusual strange behaviour can now be described as 'quirky or eccentric', so not too bad at all!
FRIEND TO ME
I wrote this in memory of a dear friend Mick Lavelle from the beautiful Co.Mayo. He was a local legend, a story teller, lilting champion, singer and all round entertainer, but above all else, a complete joy to be with. He filled our lives with laughter and song and we enjoyed many a night's craic in his company in Matt Molloys, Westport...and enjoyed numerous other impromptu sessions around the town over the years...even once at the vegetable counter in the local supermarket!
FORBIDDEN LOVE
I wrote this song after staying at the Dobbins Inn in Carrickfergus, where the ghost of Maud is said to roam the halls in search of her secret love Buttoncap. The Dobbins Inn was originally the Mayors home and his wife Elizabeth (known locally as Maud) became romantically involved with a soldier of the garrison at nearby Carrickfergus Castle. A tunnel linked the two buildings and this is where Maud and Buttoncap secretly met. However, it was also where her husband lay in wait after discovering their illicit affair, confronting and killing them both. Employees and residents of the Dobbins Inn have reported seeing Maud wander through the building wringing her hands and looking distraught.
