Castle of Dromore, The (Caislean Droim an Oir)
DESCRIPTION: "October winds lament around the Castle of Dromore, But peace is in her lofty halls...." The mother comforts her child: none cannot threaten them, and Mary is watching. She bids the child "take time to thrive" before moving on to adult tasks
AUTHOR: unknown (English words, at least, by Harold Boulton)
EARLIEST DATE: 1931 (recorded by Richard Hayward)
KEYWORDS: lullaby nonballad children foreignlanguage
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Scott-TheBalladOfAmerica, pp. 154-155, "The Castle of Dromore (Caislean Droim an Oir)" (2 texts (1 English, 1 Irish Gaelic), 1 tune)
Behan-IrelandSings, #17, "The Castle of Drumboe" (1 text, 1 tune, heavily modified to give a political sense)
DT, CASTDROM
ADDITIONAL: Richard Hayward, Ireland Calling (Glasgow,n.d.), p. 5, "The Castle of Dromore" (text, music and reference to Decca F-2266 recorded Feb 6, 1931)
Roud #31057
RECORDINGS:
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, "The Castle of Dromore" (on IRClancyMakem02)
NOTES [74 words]: This song has always suggested a political subtext to me. -PJS
Really? (Or are you looking at the Behan-IrelandSings version?)
This song exists in both English and Irish versions; both have been claimed to be original. As best I can tell, the correct Gaelic title is "Caislean Droim an Óir." - RBW
The date and master id (GB-2647-1/2) for Hayward's record is provided by Bill Dean-Myatt, MPhil. compiler of the Scottish National Discography. - BS
Last updated in version 5.0
File: SBoA154
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