No, Danny Boy....

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I don't think anyone mentioned not liking the song Londonderry Aire/Danny Boy because the lyrics were written by an Englishman. Years ago Professor John Fielding, one of the founders of Irish Opera, told me that the words were set to that tune by the lyricist to comfort a friend whose son (Daniel) had recently passed away.

I agree that it, like Amazing Grace, are done to death, and would be happy to give both songs a BIG REST, along with Fields of Athenry...

[ccga3359]

I don't think anyone mentioned not liking the song Londonderry Aire/Danny Boy because the lyrics were written by an Englishman. Years ago Professor John Fielding, one of the founders of Irish Opera, told me that the words were set to that tune by the lyricist to comfort a friend whose son (Daniel) had recently passed away.

I agree that it, like Amazing Grace, are done to death, and would be happy to give both songs a BIG REST, along with Fields of Athenry...

From the article:

NEW YORK - It's depressing, it's not usually sung in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day, and its lyrics were written by an Englishman who never set foot on Irish soil.

Keeping this mentality in mind shouldn't this "Irish" pub not celebrate St. Patricks Day because he was born in England?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Keeping this mentality in mind shouldn't this "Irish" pub not celebrate St. Patricks Day because he was born in England?

Our popular perception of Saint Patrick is based on the conflation of two distinct 5th century evangelicals called Patrick.

The first Patrick was born in Brittany, and assumed the name Palladius when consecrated Bishop of Ireland by Pope Celestine in 431, taking up residence in Ireland in 432. Here he remained until his death in 461, at which point he was succeed by:

The second Patrick who was born in Romano-Britain and, who at the age of 16, may have been sold into slavery, shipped off to Ireland, and spent perhaps as long as ten years there before returning to Britain. In Britain he received the call to return to Ireland, which he did in c. 457 (although there is evidence to suggest he may have arrived ten, or even twenty years earlier), dying in 492.

Patrician scholars continue to debate who was the "real" Patrick, although to most Irish it matters not a whit. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland, and that's good enough for most Paddy's, this one included.

But, until the debate is concluded as to who is the REAL St. Patrick, I think we ought to celebrate for two days...