Mursheen Durkin
{{Short description|Irish folk song about an Irish migrant to America}}
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The Irish folk song "Muirsheen Durkin" tells the story of an emigrant from Ireland who goes to mine for gold in California during the California Gold Rush, 1849.Sean McMahon, A Little Bit of Heaven The song is about emigration, although atypically optimistic for the genre. The name "Muirsheen" is a good phonetic approximation to the pronunciation of "Máirtín" (Martin) in Connacht Irish; it could alternatively be construed as a diminutive of "Muiris" (Maurice). A pratie is a potato, the historical staple crop of Ireland. "America" is pronounced "Americay", as was common among Gaelic peoples around Ireland.Jonathan Baron, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ulsterscots/library/a-narrow-sea-episode-59 "A Narrow Sea – Episode 59 – The Hamely Tongue"], BBC.co.uk
The air to which it is sung is "Cailíní deasa Mhuigheo" (pretty girls of Mayo), which is a popular reel dating from the 19th century.Colm Ó Lochlainn, More Irish Street Ballads, Dublin, 1965. p. 72
Performers
The song reached prominence when Johnny McEvoy's recording reached no. 1 in Ireland in 1966.{{cite web | url=http://kildare.ie/arts/events/events_03/johnny-mcevoy.asp | title=Johnny McEveoy | publisher=County Kildare Community Network | work=Arts | date=February 2014 | accessdate=2 June 2014}}
It has been covered by the following artists (and others):
- Christy Moore
- Sharon Shannon
- Four to the Bar on their live album Craic on the Road.
- The Pogues
- The Irish Rovers (both as "Muirsheen Durkin" and as "Goodbye Mrs. Durkin")
- Johnny McEvoy
- The Dubliners
- The Poxy Boggards
- Golden Bough
- The Mollys on their album Hat Trick
- Off Kilter on their album Celtic Armadillo
- Darby O'Gill
- The Wolfe Tones
- 1916 on their album Last Call for Heroes
- Na Fianna
- Fiddler's Green
Variations
"Molly Durkin" is a derivation made popular by Murty Rabbett in the 1940s in the United States.[http://www.ibiblio.org/keefer/rp01.htm Folk Index]
The song has a lively tempo and tells a whimsical tale of a man who decides to give up his work as a mortar shoveller in order to take up mining gold. The song is not so much a song of leaving Ireland as it is an Irishman's response to a woman's scorn.[http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/irish-songs-ballads-lyrics/molly_durkin.htm Lyrics from The American Songbook, by Jerry Silverman]
Recordings:
- Murty Rabbett & His Gaelic Band: "Farewell To Ireland" Properbox 3(P1109-12) (1999/2005)
- Ballinasloe Fair-Early Recordings Of Irish Music In America Traditional Crossroads CD 4284, CD (1998/2005)
References
External links
- http://www.affthecuff.org.uk/songs/mursheen.html
- http://www.8notes.com/scores/5619.asp?ftype=midi
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Category:Irish-American culture