Jump to content

The Boys of Wexford: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
expanded
expanded, added ref
Line 1: Line 1:
{{refimprove|date=March 2007}}


'''"The Boys of Wexford"''' (also known as ''The Flight of the Earls'') is an Irish [[ballad]] commemorating the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]] and, more specifically, the [[Wexford Rebellion]]. The aim of rebellion was to remove English control from Irish affairs and it resulted in the 1801 Act of Union.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bartlett|first1=Thomas|title=The 1798 Irish Rebellion|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/irish_reb_01.shtml|publisher=BBC}}</ref> The ballad was lyrics were composed by [[Robert Dwyer Joyce]]<ref name=Ludwig>[http://www.ludwigmasters.com/products/5057-the-boys-of-wexford-arr-nestico.aspx "The Boys of Wexford" (arr. Nestico), Ludwig Masters Publications]</ref> and music by [[Arthur Warren Darley]], who also composed other Wexford ballads, "[[Boolavogue]]" and "[[Kelly the Boy from Killanne]]".<ref>[http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20040411113457325 Cómhrá na dTonn, a Book and CD About Irish Traditional Music]</ref>
'''"The Boys of Wexford"''' (also known as ''The Flight of the Earls'') is an Irish [[ballad]] commemorating the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]] and, more specifically, the [[Wexford Rebellion]]. The aim of rebellion was to remove English control from Irish affairs and it resulted in the 1801 Act of Union.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bartlett|first1=Thomas|title=The 1798 Irish Rebellion|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/irish_reb_01.shtml|publisher=BBC}}</ref>


==History==
⚫
On the second day of President [[John F Kennedy]]'s four-day trip to Ireland in June 1963, school children sang ''The Boys of Wexford'' and ''Kelly the Boy from Killanne'' for the President.<ref name="BBC 1963">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/27/newsid_4461000/4461115.stm|title=1963: Warm welcome for JFK in Ireland|accessdate=February 23, 2012|publisher=BBC | date=June 27, 1963}}</ref> When asked if he'd like another song, Kennedy replied, "Another verse of ''The Boys of Wexford'' would be fine". Before leaving, he asked one of the students for a copy of the lyrics.<ref>[http://www.independent.ie/life/jfk/jfk-said-another-verse-of-the-boys-of-wexford-would-be-fine-29346225.html Clifford, Graham. "JFK said another verse of 'The Boys of Wexford' would be fine", ''Independent'', June 6, 2013]</ref>
The ballad was lyrics were composed by [[Robert Dwyer Joyce]]<ref name=Ludwig>[http://www.ludwigmasters.com/products/5057-the-boys-of-wexford-arr-nestico.aspx "The Boys of Wexford" (arr. Nestico), Ludwig Masters Publications]</ref> and music by [[Arthur Warren Darley]], who also composed other Wexford ballads, "[[Boolavogue]]" and "[[Kelly the Boy from Killanne]]".<ref>[http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20040411113457325 Cómhrá na dTonn, a Book and CD About Irish Traditional Music]</ref>


On the Isle of Man, the tune is known as ''Yn Speigh Er My Gealin'' (The Pick On My Shoulder).
⚫
The melody, from a traditional Irish folk song, was arranged for the United States Marine Band at the request of President Kennedy, whose ancestors hailed from Wexford. The arrangement was done by noted composer and arranger [[Sammy Nestico|Samuel L. Nestico]].<ref name=Ludwig/>


==JFK==
⚫
The tune, orchestrated by [[Nelson Riddle]], was later used for the opening and closing theme of the 1964 television series [[Profiles in Courage (TV series)|Profiles in Courage]], based on Kennedy's book of the same name.
⚫
On the second day of President [[John F Kennedy]]'s four-day trip to Ireland in June 1963, school children sang ''The Boys of Wexford'' and ''Kelly the Boy from Killanne'' for the President.<ref name="BBC 1963">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/27/newsid_4461000/4461115.stm|title=1963: Warm welcome for JFK in Ireland|accessdate=February 23, 2012|publisher=BBC | date=June 27, 1963}}</ref><ref>[http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/he-sang-boys-of-wexford-with-us-1.1423244 O'Connell, Brian. "He sang ‘Boys of Wexford’ with us", ''The Irish Times'', June 19, 2013]</ref> When asked if he'd like another song, Kennedy replied, "Another verse of ''The Boys of Wexford'' would be fine". Before leaving, he asked one of the students for a copy of the lyrics.<ref>[http://www.independent.ie/life/jfk/jfk-said-another-verse-of-the-boys-of-wexford-would-be-fine-29346225.html Clifford, Graham. "JFK said another verse of 'The Boys of Wexford' would be fine", ''Independent'', June 6, 2013]</ref>

⚫
The melody, from a traditional Irish folk song, was arranged for the United States Marine Band at the request of President Kennedy, whose ancestors hailed from Wexford. The arrangement was done by noted composer and arranger [[Sammy Nestico|Samuel L. Nestico]].<ref name=Ludwig/>


⚫
The tune, orchestrated by [[Nelson Riddle]], was later used for the opening and closing theme of the 1964 television series [[Profiles in Courage (TV series)|Profiles in Courage]], based on Kennedy's book of the same name.
==Recordings==
Irish folk group, [[The Clancy Brothers]], recorded "The Boys of Wexford" on the 1995 album, ''[[Older But No Wiser]]''. [[The Wolfe Tones]] also recorded the song on their debut 1965 album ''[[The Foggy Dew (album)|The Foggy Dew]]
Irish folk group, [[The Clancy Brothers]], recorded "The Boys of Wexford" on the 1995 album, ''[[Older But No Wiser]]''. [[The Wolfe Tones]] also recorded the song on their debut 1965 album ''[[The Foggy Dew (album)|The Foggy Dew]]


Revision as of 05:43, 27 July 2016

"The Boys of Wexford" (also known as The Flight of the Earls) is an Irish ballad commemorating the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and, more specifically, the Wexford Rebellion. The aim of rebellion was to remove English control from Irish affairs and it resulted in the 1801 Act of Union.[1]

History

The ballad was lyrics were composed by Robert Dwyer Joyce[2] and music by Arthur Warren Darley, who also composed other Wexford ballads, "Boolavogue" and "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".[3]

On the Isle of Man, the tune is known as Yn Speigh Er My Gealin (The Pick On My Shoulder).

JFK

On the second day of President John F Kennedy's four-day trip to Ireland in June 1963, school children sang The Boys of Wexford and Kelly the Boy from Killanne for the President.[4][5] When asked if he'd like another song, Kennedy replied, "Another verse of The Boys of Wexford would be fine". Before leaving, he asked one of the students for a copy of the lyrics.[6]

The melody, from a traditional Irish folk song, was arranged for the United States Marine Band at the request of President Kennedy, whose ancestors hailed from Wexford. The arrangement was done by noted composer and arranger Samuel L. Nestico.[2]

The tune, orchestrated by Nelson Riddle, was later used for the opening and closing theme of the 1964 television series Profiles in Courage, based on Kennedy's book of the same name.

Recordings

Irish folk group, The Clancy Brothers, recorded "The Boys of Wexford" on the 1995 album, Older But No Wiser. The Wolfe Tones also recorded the song on their debut 1965 album The Foggy Dew

References

  1. ^ Bartlett, Thomas. "The 1798 Irish Rebellion". BBC.
  2. ^ a b "The Boys of Wexford" (arr. Nestico), Ludwig Masters Publications
  3. ^ Cómhrá na dTonn, a Book and CD About Irish Traditional Music
  4. ^ "1963: Warm welcome for JFK in Ireland". BBC. June 27, 1963. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  5. ^ O'Connell, Brian. "He sang ‘Boys of Wexford’ with us", The Irish Times, June 19, 2013
  6. ^ Clifford, Graham. "JFK said another verse of 'The Boys of Wexford' would be fine", Independent, June 6, 2013
Stub icon

This folk song–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Boys_of_Wexford&oldid=731735159"