By Rónán Galvin

In conversation with US writer and historian, Studs Terkel in 1966, Margaret Barry recalled that her rendition of ‘The Blarney Stone’, gave ‘a great lift-up’ to the crowd in the Bedford Arms, Camden Town. It is no wonder, as the song traversed around Ireland through Kerry, Clare, Wicklow, Kildare, Sligo and Mayo, resonating with newly arrived emigrants. More than a dozen counties are represented over the playlists, and also featured are London-born musicians of Irish parentage such as Mick O’Connor and Kevin Burke.    

London was also the setting for an evolving tradition through newly composed music and song. On a cold Christmas morning in 1968, Finbarr Dwyer created ‘Waltz of the birds’, inspired by the melodic whistle of a chaffinch in a city park. Likewise, Pádraic Breathnach of Gorumna Island, Connemara composed several songs based on his new existence including his version of ‘An spailpín fánach’, featured here. Pádraic speaks of his personal experience of the hiring fair and the conditions that drove him, and thousands like him to the emigrant boat, while elsewhere he describes what it was like to arrive in London in 1942 with hardly any English. 

Personal stories are a backdrop to the vibrant tradition, such as that of collector and fiddle player, Con Sweeney. Con emigrated to Scotland as a teenager in 1950. At first he worked in the tunnels before settling in London with his wife, Ita where they raised a large family. There, he befriended and recorded many musicians including Finbarr Dwyer and Seán Maguire, often at his home in Wembly after a days’ music on Fulham Broadway. In the late 1970s Con returned with his family to his native Donegal, but sadly passed away shortly after. ITMA is grateful to the Sweeney family, and all London-related donations already mentioned in the first playlist.