Rathfriland on the Hill

The Mountains of Mourne is a nice place to be on a sunny September day. “Rathfriland on the Hill” is a County Down song that has a very similar tune to the better known and perhaps older song called Spancil Hill. Stephen Toman mentioned in the final verse was an actual publican and draper in Rathfriland in the early 1900s which makes Spancil Hill appear to have been written first. Maybe they are two different versions of the same tune from the days before tape recorders and record players. I’m sure both these similar melodies have their roots in much older tunes that were originally sang in Irish and are now forgotten. Belfast singing legend, Ruby Murray included the sang Rathfriland in the Hill in her 1969 EP titled, This is Ireland and the Sands family also did a nice version in 1972. Other than that it’s a pretty neglected tune now seeing some daylight with myself and my 12 string on the beautiful County Down Hill. Ach i gcás ar bith, Hope you enjoy - Finn
#rathfrilandonthehill #rathfriland #bryansford #countydown #folksong #folkmusic #finnmcginn #irishsong #spancilhill #irishsinger #folksinger #12stringguitar #ireland #folk #folkrock

[@ralphraffles1394]

Beautifully sung. As a Belfast boy whose family moved over the water when I was seven, I still recall the magnificent beauty of the surrounding green hills. Although it is decades later, I still feel the pull to return. I see now where Mollie got her talent from, and can imagine her as a young girl practicing hard on the guitar, to proudly show, her gifted, musician father, just how good she was becoming. Best wishes from Oxford.

[@FinnMcGinn]

Cheers Ralph

[@shivmist4141]

Stayed in Rathfriland hardly for 45 days, but I must say the place is so positive and beautiful. Love from India.

[@FinnMcGinn]

The mountains of India are in another scale though 😀

[@pauldavis4072]

Smashing performance Finn. Lovely 12 string. And a beautiful place to be.

[@tomusictomusic]

Thanks Paul, it was fun

[@finkaivanovska8016]

Divna izvedba👍🎸🎶Prekrasno djeljenje👌🏼 Priroda prelijepa👏Pozdrav od Makedonija🇲🇰😍🌿🍀🕊

[@tomusictomusic]

Thanks Divna