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CD Booklet notes:
Willie Drennan Ulster Folk Band
Northern Ireland: Everywhere We Go ... is the creation of life long Northern Ireland fan, and Ulster Scots
musician, Willie Drennan.
The album is primarily a celebration of Northern Ireland’s fantastic
achievement in reaching the EUFA Finals, for the first time, in 2016. It is also
a celebration of our wee country: Northern Ireland.
It is a combination of new creations and traditional pieces that reflect
the exceptional spirit of both the football team and their fans. You don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy the
album – but it will help if you are.
I had to give a lot of thought as to which title to use for
this track. The Londonderry Air is often
mistakenly called Danny Boy as this is one of the several songs that have been
set to this ancient air. These include a couple of hymns and a beautiful ballad
called Derry Vale. There can be no dispute however that Danny Boy is by far the
best known and therefore it is understandable why some people assume it is the
name of the tune. And fair play to the Englishman who wrote the lyrics of this
poignant, heart-wrenching classic but it doesn’t really have anything at all to
do with Northern Ireland :
and this is what this album is all about – Northern Ireland .
I also recall that in the early 1970’s some musicians began
recording this air and naming it ‘The Derry Air’ and lots of people started to
call it by that name. People do this sort of stuff in Northern Ireland . So to be
politically correct and all-encompassing I considered calling it the
Londonderry/Derry Air: or, the Derry/Londonderry Air: or, the Londonderry/Derry
– Derry /Londonderry Air. But even that was
never going to work and some folk would still be annoyed and offended that
Londonderry came before Derry: or vice versa of course.
After having given considerable time in consideration of
this I then realised that using Derry Air in this album would be inappropriate
anyway as this album is all about Northern Ireland competing in the Euro 16
Finals in France and I learned when I was at school that the French also talk about
their derry air but it has a totally different meaning. They possibly spell it different but it sounds the same. Therefore in respect of
the French people and their language it could be confusing and considered
distasteful.
So, Londonderry Air it is; which was actually my thought in
the first place. While this ancient tune was played throughout Ulster , Ireland
and Scotland ,
it was officially given this name when it was first published in Petrie’s
‘Ancient Music of Ireland’ in 1855. It had been collected and notated by Jane
Ross of Limavady, County
Londonderry .
This version has a
distinct Ulster
twist as it incorporates the Lambeg drum.
Words by Willie Drennan.
Killaloe.
A common march played by Irish regiments of the British Army
since the 19th Century. It would have been a popular tune during
World War One. In June 2016, one hundred
years after the Battle of the Somme,
isn’t it wonderful that today’s battles between European nations are being played
out only on the football pitch?
It remains a very popular tune in Northern Ireland today as it was
played by the Royal Irish Rangers. Its origins however are in Killaloe, County Limerick.
So, if Republic of Ireland
fans also want to lay claim to this tune that will be most welcomed. This version includes some vocals. The lyrics
may be challenging but once you have learned them you will never regret it. It
is sung in the key of Da.
The annual
British Home Championships lasted for 100 years and were last played in 1984. Northern Ireland were victorious
that year. So, it really doesn’t matter how many goals anyone else ever scores
against us we are most likely to remain British Champions for evermore. Yes the IFA still holds the British Cup. Having
said that: we do wish former British Home Championship competitors, England and Wales,
much success in the 2016 Euros in France. And best wishes also to our
neighbours, the Republic
of Ireland. And as for Scotland,
well … best wishes for success in 2020.
Words by
Willie Drennan. Set to traditional air: “Jolly Beggarman”.
Northern Ireland to the Core (Special Windsor
Roar)
Written and
produced by Colin Agnew: the featured lead singer is Davy Sloan. This was a big
hit among Northern Ireland
fans when it was first released in 2009. This song captures the magic of the
fighting spirit of the Northern Irish players of the past and more recent
times.
St Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day
Another tune used by Irish
regiments of the British Army: in particular, it is the regimental march of the
Irish Guards. It is also a popular Irish dance tune and so perhaps this is
another tune that may also be claimed by our neighbouring football rivals in
the Republic of Ireland .
They will also claim of course that Patrick is accredited for
introducing Christianity to the whole island of Ireland .
This is true, but worth pointing out that Patrick spent 6 years as a slave boy
in County Antrim: and Down and Armagh was where he was based for his missionary
work.
This arrangement brings in fiddle, bagpipes, and fifes with Lambeg drums.
My Aunt Jane
This version of the traditional Northern Ireland street song is for the
football fans. Everybody in Northern
Ireland has an Aunt Jane or at least a Great
Aunt Jane. Don’t they??
Boys of Belfast
A popular
fifing tune for the Lambeg Drum. We’re
throwing in this rocky version for the boys of Belfast
who follow Northern Ireland . Featured lead guitarist here is Sam Davidson.
Absolutely
nothing to do with football but this is for the female football fans of Northern Ireland
and of course the WAGS . Should give them something to contemplate and chatter
about. The writer has requested
anonymity.
The Term ULSTER
and Identity
For many people the
term Ulster is synonymous
with Northern Ireland:
especially among Northern
Ireland football fans. Others will challenge
this, pointing out that three of the counties of Ulster
are actually in the Republic
of Ireland. This is
of course accurate as Ulster
is one of the four ancient provinces of Ireland. It has nine counties and
with partition, in 1922, six of those counties became Northern Ireland while Counties Cavan, Monaghan
and Donegal became part of the Free State -
later the Republic
of Ireland.
This explains why Loyalists from East Belfast and Irish
Republicans from Tyrone or Cavan both see themselves as Ulster people.
This can sometimes be contentious but for me this
commonality should be highlighted as it demonstrates the sharing of an ancient
identity. After all, most of us were
raired on the Ulster Fry for breakfast.
Regardless of
political beliefs, religion or cultural identity we should all be celebrating
the fact that we are ALL Ulster
people.
Song for Northern Ireland.
Celebrating the counties and marvellous geographical
features of Northern Ireland - as well as its marvellous football team.
Words and Music by Willie Drennan
An Ulster
Ode to All Europe 2016 [Ode to Joy by Ludwig Van Beethoven]
Adopted by Council of Europe, which has 47
member states, in 1972. It was later
also adopted by the European Union with its 28 member states. We dedicate this
Northern Irish version to all 54 nation states which are signed up to EUFA. In
other words: to all the countries in Europe
that have a football team. Can’t let the politicos grab all the good tunes.
While
Beethoven may turn in his grave at the notion of his beautiful composition
being played on Lambeg drum and fifes, I suspect he would have been favourable
to having it connected to all people in Europe, as opposed to it being claimed
by a political entity.
This arrangement by Willie Drennan and Davy
Angus features the Ulster Lambeg drum and fifes plus John Trotter on Trombone.
Spirit of the Bann
The River
Bann flows right through the core of Northern Ireland.
It arises in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains,
flows through Lough Neagh and enters the Atlantic Ocean between Portstewart and
Castlerock. Five of the six counties of
Northern Ireland:
Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Londonderry
and Antrim enjoy its glorious sight. Tributaries also form close to Fermanagh
whose bountiful waters must surely at some point also seep or splash to impact
upon the mighty Bann. And if not, water from the Fermanagh clouds certainly do.
It therefore takes no great stretch of imagination to connect the Spirit of the
Bann to the spirit of the people of Northern Ireland.
Words and
music by Willie Drennan.
Sing along with Aunt Jane, everywhere
we go.
A medley of
tunes for some of the popular songs of Northern Ireland
fans [Not Brazil/Steven Davis/
Bouncy/Everywhere We Go]. If you’re not
sure of the words consult your Aunt Jane. Special thanks to artisan and Northern Ireland
fan, Norman Quinn, for sharing his recording of “Everywhere We Go”, as sung by
just about NI fan who attended the game against Hungary at Windsor
Park. [https://www.facebook.com/NAQuinnPhotography/]
See LYRICS for words of new songs on this album.
See LYRICS for words of new songs on this album.
Credits:
Produced by Willie Drennan for The Ulster Folk
Assistant producers: Davy Angus and John Trotter.
Engineered by Davy Angus and Sam Davidson.
Booklet design by Micah Jones: www.micahtjones.com
Recorded at Beachmount Studios, Donaghadee and Holywood
Studios, Dundonald
Reproduced by CPR Studios, Bangor.
All new music and lyrics by Willie Drennan, except Northern Ireland
to the Core: Colin Agnew.
Other music: Traditional.
Primary musicians:
Willie Drennan:
Vocals, flutes, banjolin, mandolin, fiddle, rope drum, Lambeg.
Davy Angus: Flute,
fife, double bass, vocals.
John Trotter:
Trombone, accordion, fiddle, fiddle.
Other Featured Artists:
Sam Davidson: lead guitar on Boys of Belfast.
Davy Sloan: Lead vocals on Northern Ireland to the Core.
Ian Burrows: Highland
Bagpipes on St Patrick’s Day.
Roger Ellis: (Nova Scotian singer/songwriter). Vocals on
British Champions and Spirit of the Bann.
Caroline Drennan: Lead vocals on Ulster Boy.
Other Musicians
Include:
Derek Montgomery: Vocals, drums and percussion.
Jim Cuthbertson: Drums and percussion.
John Wilson: Drums.
Gareth Fulton:
Flute, vocals.
Klara Nelson: Vocals.
Choir of Windsor Park, Northern Ireland fans at Hungary game.
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