Spancil Hill Horse Fair, Co. Clare, Ireland 1981

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2 жыл бұрын

Singer Red Hurley visits the horse fair at Spancilhill in County Clare.
In the RTÉ Television series ‘My Ireland’, well known singers present an aspect of Ireland. In this episode, entitled ‘Clare To Here’ the singer Red Hurley visits the historic sites of County Clare, many of which feature in traditional Irish ballads and songs.
Spancilhill Horse Fair in County Clare is one of the oldest fairs in Ireland. It begins on 23 June or St John’s Eve, known in many parts of Ireland as Bonfire Night.
The sights and sounds of the fair are accompanied by Red Hurley performing the Irish folk ballad, ’Spancil Hill’. It was composed by Michael Considine who emigrated from the area in 1870. This poem, subsequently turned into a ballad, tells of an Irish emigrant in America who longs for his home in Spancilhill. In a dream he travels home on the night before the Spancilhill Horse Fair. However when he awakens he finds he is California, far from his beloved home in the heartland of Clare.
This episode of ‘My Ireland’ was broadcast on 1 July 1981. The series producer is Ian McGarry.

Пікірлер: 40

@Jeremyramone 2 жыл бұрын

Woke up in California many miles from spancilhill. The shane/c Moore version is perfection.

@raygreen5926 2 жыл бұрын

Ah, that is Red Hurley walking amongst the country folk in the mystical County Clare. These were horsey people but not the posh ones. Had to laugh when the camera zoomed into the trader's pocket full of cash. All those oldtimers dead now sure life is verily only a passing dream. The kids now probably have their own kids and occupied with the manifold cares of life and long forget that innocent interlude at Spancil Hill. 1981 was two generations ago now. It was the febrile year of the hunger strike in Northern Ireland and Anthony Baekeland, once a poor rich kid, succumbed in a lonely prison cell in Riker's Island, NYC. But then it's all a dream isn't it and time makes ghosts of us all. ☘🇮🇪🇺🇸☘

@LetsAllDrinkToTheDeathOfAClown 2 ай бұрын

Well put my brother. Speaking of the 81' Hunger Strike reminds me of The Wolfe Tones epic, "Joe McDonnell". Your words also stirred up, "We may have good men, but we never had better, glory o', glory o', to the Bold Fenian Men". Salutations my friend 🍀 🍀 🍀 🇮🇪 🍀 🍀 🍀

@Dhspat 2 жыл бұрын

I believe I was at the Horse Fair that year. ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

@td370 2 жыл бұрын

Share your experience if you’re willing

@fnh8340 2 жыл бұрын

I am sure I was there as well.

@mariapierce2707 2 жыл бұрын

🥰

@vintagebuddha 2 жыл бұрын

Thank You

@robsmithadventures1537 4 ай бұрын

I think this is my favourite video online.

@marklockwood8386 2 жыл бұрын

I was there aged 10

@21stcenturymuse27 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing to see this.

@ciatangallaghe2485 2 жыл бұрын

Great video and great version of the song

@jimdalton6140 Жыл бұрын

A Ireland 🇮🇪 I remembered good simple times

@mariapierce2707 2 жыл бұрын

Love this! Thank you!

@richiehoyt8487 2 жыл бұрын

Love the Oul' Fella at 1:40 lashin' out the _bon mots_ left 'n' right like a cross between Lil Wayne and David Niven. Only trouble is, in spite of him being a fellow countryman of mine, I reckon the anecdotes and witticisms might be wasted on me; I think I would no more understand him than I would Chaucer!

@johnnielson7676 2 жыл бұрын

The best version I ever heard sung was by Robbie McMahon during the evening programme at the 1978 Fleadh Cheoil in Listowel, County Kerry. One man, one voice singing on his own without a light show, fog machine or a satin and leather costume. The power of his performance and solo voice was greater than any of the big stage extravaganzas which have since become prevalent.

@margaretsullivan Жыл бұрын

Robbie McMahon not great.

@Alakeaful Ай бұрын

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHSueKRnbtGnZ9Usi=doTA6Kr-xa0TLPfM

@Sinnerboy88 2 жыл бұрын

There's a hairy ass fair in the County Clare in a place they call Spancil Hill. Where my brother James got a rap of the hames and poor Paddy they tried to kill. They loaded him up in an old ass and cart while Kate and big Mary stood by. Ah, bad luck to the day that I went away, to join with the tinker's band.

@declanokeeffe84 2 жыл бұрын

The Pecker Dunnes song, he was probably in Spancill Hill in 1981 too.

@gkelly4588 2 жыл бұрын

Sullivans John

@noelmaher4633 2 жыл бұрын

June 81, was in Corinto Nicaragua.....#irishpine

@LetsAllDrinkToTheDeathOfAClown 2 ай бұрын

Robbie McMahon's version is said to be the closest to the original poem penned by Michael Considine in 1873 on his death bed in Californ-ia far far from Spancil Hill. The true story behind the poem/song is absolutely heartbreaking and if you have Gaelic blood it reaches into the very depths of your soul. If there is any sort of Providential justice and if there is indeed an afterlife then I hope with all of my being that Michael Considine and his only true love, Mac the Ranger's daughter, the pride of Spancil Hill, are together for eternity. Please let it be dear Aine and brave Aengus.

@Roddy1965 2 жыл бұрын

Who's that walkin' around there? Eoin McLove?

@magpie6648 2 жыл бұрын

Red Hurley

@magpie6648 2 жыл бұрын

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5PWd4ujha13kNk

@richiehoyt8487 2 жыл бұрын

HaHa! Good 'un. That chancer there, (and admittedly, he _was_ in the Housewives' Top 2 or 3, along with "Spi' on me, Dickie" Rock, and Joe Dolan, all during the '70's and into the '80's), him - and guys _like_ him, were the reason there wasn't a town in Ireland that didn't have a pirate radio station. Not that _they_ were much of an alternative, but give me Don Henley and Supertramp over the dreaded Gina, Dale Hayes & The Champions _any_ time! Anyway, even if you didn't actually _know,_ you could tell a mile off that that dude was in the music biz; he's got the look _down..!_ Y'know, the look that says, "Sorry if I seem a little distant - my mind is on other things. Bigger things... _Visionary_ things!" If he was a rocker, he woulda had one of those magical electric guitars that you can play on the edge of those dramatic, storm - lashed cliffs!

@smurph4959 2 жыл бұрын

Kept thinking the presenter was going to get a kick at some stage walking so close to the backs of the horses 🙈

@KrisHughes 2 жыл бұрын

That's one reason most carry a stick.

@voraciousreader3341 2 жыл бұрын

Getting kicked only happens to those who don’t know what they’re doing, and children.

@alllovingcowherdboy4475 2 жыл бұрын

Fine legs God bless them

@kramalerav 2 жыл бұрын

That song could actually work as a power metal tune!

@Martin-sp4zf 2 жыл бұрын

I see now that the Queen of England's Guard is all mounted on Irish Draughts with some Clyde's Dale thrown in.

@LetsAllDrinkToTheDeathOfAClown 2 ай бұрын

So much has changed since 1981. The Irish people today, like most other Western Europeans, are facing a peril far more destructive than the whole period of English occupation. May the spirit of Erin's warrior poets awaken the Gaels in time to avert the fate Her enemies have planned for Her.