The Fields Of Athenry

NEWSFLASH! Do you think you're a terrible singer? Richard Swan, director of this choir, has just brought out a new book for you. It's available on Amazon at:
UK site
www.amazon.co....
US site
www.amazon.com...
You can find out more about the book at www.thinkyoucan.... If you were told to mime in the school choir, or you get laughed at while singing karaoke, then this book is for you.
London City Voices sing this Irish classic arranged by Richard Swan as part of their Christmas Concert 2016. Not very Christmassy perhaps, but we liked it.
We should point out that Richard, the director, is Irish, and the choir members happen to live in London but represent many, many nations. There are a fair few ignorant comments below, written by people that need to do their research before making sweeping statements. To you, we say "Is amadán thú. Ní mór duit a fhoghlaim a bheith beagán níos cineálta."

[@LondonCityVoices]

Hello all. Glad you're all enjoying the video! I've just brought out a new book called "Think You Can't Sing? Think Again!". It's got loads of online videos to help you learn. Loads of you will have spent your lives thinking that you can't sing, but I'm here to tell you that you can learn. Have a look at www.thinkyoucantsing.com and find out what I'm talking about.😃

[@chrismartin259]

Goosebumps fabulous rendition of one of the best ballads ever written thank you from Ireland

[@yanos3137]

That was just so beautifully sung - it was compassionate and inspirational. May it be sung forever in memory of those poor people who suffered terribly and died at the hands of the Crown.

[@thomasmaguire7510]

It is Good That People Learn a Bit of Irish History. A Beautiful Rendition of a Famous Song, From Connaught.

[@ALavin-en1kr]

Magnificent. A great rendition of one of my favorite songs.

[@foxglove7755]

American Irish here and wishing peace and harmony for all of us on this earth. God gave us every reason to love and forgive us our trespasses.

[@robertpaterson9005]

One of the best renditions of this sad beautiful love story

[@iansmith5738]

I hope they understand the history of what they are singing 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@Anotherdamnlolly]

We do indeed. Those of us who are English are not responsible for the actions of the generations 4:55 before us. But we can express regret for their actions, educate those who don’t know the history, and show our respect and love for our Irish family, friends and neighbours.

[@jackthelad5366]

Course they f**kin do yer div

[@LaurenceOConnor-fg4dk]

​@Lorren Rea Indeed, you have nothing to apologise to anyone for the actions of people who lived almost 200 years ago.

[@ignacioazparren2867]

Long life for Ireland!!!

[@SmcdMcd-d2k]

@@Anotherdamnlollywell said

[@sandralabuschagne9442]

Watching this beautiful choir from South Africa! Absolutely sublime!

[@jimkirwan1766]

This is such an amazing rendition of what is such an important song to Irish people. Thank you London City Voices Choir!!

[@terryorourke1169]

Jim Kirwan beautiful

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

Agree

[@johnoconnor4623]

Wonderful to see a choir sing this song, that is now an Anthem. Will watch again.

[@machree01]

A lovely rendition, beautiful harmonies, really enjoyed it well done everyone., written by Pete St. John.

[@chochy8137]

I have always loved this song. This is the best version I have ever heard. Well done everybody involved.

[@aughalough1]

Tiocfaidh ár lá, Well done you London City Voices!!

[@ronanbrennan708]

Beautiful rendition by London Voices Choir. The best I have heard.

[@parakeet8157]

Magnificent version by this massive choir! 👏 BRAVO!

[@stephendaly691]

One of the best versions. Love this. May good god bless you all. Walk on..... with hope in our hearts. 🌎

[@architectwmf]

Beautiful arrangement. Beautiful music regardless of who is singing. Bravo London City. You can't blame all Brits for Trevelyan. Times were hard back in famine days

[@MichaelHarrisIreland]

Beautiful, from Ireland.

[@n49martin]

I love this song, it's one of the best known ballads in the world and is often performed choirs and orchestras.

[@jamescummins3208]

Perfect, just perfect. Well done choir!!!

[@LondonCityVoices]

Thanks James!

[@SmcdMcd-d2k]

@@LondonCityVoicesthis is amazing!! Love from ireland

[@johnoconnor4623]

It's a good anthem. When I watch the choir I love the mix of faces putting their heart into the song, unknown to most of them. I know the song, I know the place Athenry in County Galway in Ireland. A small town that like many suffered in the famine of the 1840s.

[@patsyoconner9506]

i lived fairly near too

[@Elizabeth-iw3wd]

Beautiful rendition..... Well done 👏❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@chrisgibson6520]

Beautiful rendition but check out the Dubliners with Paddy Reilly 40 years aniversary from the gaiety 2003. Can't beat that version.

[@davidokeefe1898]

Such a beautiful song. I thank each person in the choir. beautiful!

[@johngundersen2577]

Just beautiful❤

[@drsigmundschadenfreude2965]

Inspiring. Well done you London people.

[@seanfitzgerald4098]

The words of the song are self explanatory A wonderful rendition, excellent

[@patbaxter6588]

Love this rendition of Pete St Johns greatest songs I am Scottish and love the Irish

[@georgedavie8355]

Cannie believe they are singing this song but to be fair they do it justice.Thig Ar Latha.

[@thomascassidy8347]

Such a beautiful song sung so beautifully xx

[@LondonCityVoices]

Thank you Thomas!

[@niamhnidhalaigh5861]

Beautiful 🇨🇮

[@6Tghma]

Ivory coast flag 🤦‍♂️

[@niamhnidhalaigh5861]

@@6Tghma oops 😂😂

[@eightdegreeswest]

The flag you posted is not the Irish Flag. It is the flag of the Ivory Coast in West Africa. The Irish flag is Green White and Orange not Orange White and Green!

[@karlsteinkamp4184]

wir singen das Lied im Chanty Chor Binnenschiffer Eilshausen seit 2019 es ist ein Genuss auch mal von anderen Chören zu hören !

[@archymac5801]

LONG LIVE MY IRISH FAMILY AND IRISH FRIENDS

[@karinfranzenmitchell8701]

What a heartfelt rendition of a truly wonderful song.

[@brianmaguire6521]

im an irishman.this is magnificent.

[@LondonCityVoices]

Thanks Brian!

[@timothyogden9761]

Sir I was about to say how novel it is that English sing this song giving it's significants. Would Pete St John agree with you? If so, consider this a unfounded. God bless.

[@maureenmartin4730]

Thank you Pete St John for a wonderful true sad beautiful song❤😢

[@aquahydroman7623]

A beautiful rendition :)

[@mariontimmons2670]

Brilliant

[@lindsaygrose-harding1941]

I love this song. Well done guys!

[@mortennielsen2350]

So beautiful song

[@rogereyles466]

really really good, great tone and harmonies love the song

[@sylvialeach6292]

Very touching.

[@conbroderick444]

This is beautiful

[@verdicapirro6715]

Peace, peace for ever, in any part of the world...

[@scottsleo]

so touching watching this choir!!

[@pauldoyle6040]

Love this version....one of my favourites...classic song.

[@Paolo-v9k]

Best meaningful songs with a message or life advice

[@sbedekar93]

Just Beautiful

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

Good use of the male/ female voice parts

[@maureenmartin4730]

Fabulous! Probably half of the choir is of Irish descent !! Lovely rendition of a true story song 😢🌈

[@williamporter8748]

This True'ly is a Beautiful Song 🎵 (And London City Voices You True'ly Have done this Song 🎵 Justice.)

[@dunhillan8360]

By a lonely prison wall I heard a young girl calling "Michael, they have taken you away For you stole Trevelyan's corn So the young might see the morn Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay" Low lie the fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling "Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free Against the famine and the crown I rebelled, they cut me down Now you must raise our child with dignity" Low lie the fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry By a lonely harbour wall She watched the last star falling As that prison ship sailed out against the sky For she lived in hope and pray For her love in Botany Bay It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry Low lie the fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry

[@kencurran8853]

The Fields of Athenry was written by Dubliner Pete St John. His son was in my class in secondary school.

[@sterling629]

Well sung, what else can you say.

[@rebishakarmacharya157]

Superb

[@plymd]

Beautiful>XXXXXX

[@padraichorgan]

Really enjoyed that.

[@johnoconnor4623]

Here are the lyrics because it is not always clear what the words are when a choir sings the words: By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling Michael they have taken you away, For you stole Trevelyn's corn So the young might see the morn, Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay Low lie, The Fields Of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing We had dreams and songs to sing, Its so lonely round the Fields of Athenry By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling 'Nothing matters Mary, when you're free' Against the famine and the crown, I rebelled, they brought me down Now its lonely round the Fields of Athenry By a lonely harbour wall She watched the last star falling As the prison ship sailed out against the sky Sure she'll live in hope and pray For her love in Botney Bay Its so lonely round the Fields Of Athenry

[@clavier2560]

It' s Botany Bay.... and Trevelyan 's corn

[@ronanbrennan708]

John O'Connor What about the verse that goes " you must raise our child with dignity " ?

[@katekitchen2023]

Gave me chills- literally. One of my favorite songs.

[@angelogiugni8791]

wonderfoul

[@sarahcorrigan3601]

The Fields Of Athenry London City Voices Choir.

[@Rasher1974]

Learn through history but never be a slave to it, the only person who suffers from a grudge is yourself, beautiful version.

[@apairofbrowneyes77]

The need for recognition of a wrongdoing and heartfelt appologies is an important part of reconciliation and trauma resolution. National traumas such as The Irish Famine, wars, genocide, persecutions, slavery, oppression, ecc. leave collective scars that last for generations. To say that these scars are grudges is gaslighting entire peoples, for entire generations. In my opinion, the descendents of oppressors hold a hystorical, emotional, psycological debt towards the descendants of the oppressed. I am Portuguese and my country, as an invader, oppressive, colonialist nation has huge, huge debts towards many african, american and asian peoples. I feel that and I have personally and sincerely aknowledged and appologised many times. No buts, no what ifs, just appologise. Otherwise, we are reennacting the same kind of gaslighting that the British parliament did back in the 1840's - to say that the fault for the famine was of the Irish themselves, since they were excessively prolyfic catholics. This kind of violence needs to be aknowledged and appologised for.

[@Rasher1974]

@@apairofbrowneyes77 I agree with your comments however please read what I said I did not in any way belittle the Famine or any other atrocities which have happened in the world, but begrudgery will never change history or people only be detriment to your own well being, as a very proud Irishman I do not hold the current UK or any other Government accountable for the Sins of their forefathers as long as they accept it hppened.Stay safe a Cara.

[@apairofbrowneyes77]

@@Rasher1974 I'm glad that you don't belittle the atrocities... I don't think it is begrudgery though. I think it is an inherent part of the reconciliation process to be able to speak about traumas and to get recognition and appologies for the wrongdoings of our ancestors... you'd be surprised of how liberating this process is.

[@paulodriscoll5419]

@@Rasher1974but what stops a government anywhere from repeating abhorrent behaviors if they are not constantly reminded? The UK government was never directly punished for its de facto genocidal actions during the famine so at least a permanent reminder and recognition will make everyone (all sides) better. It not really a grudge rather a permanent part of being Irish and it makes us stronger. Everyone knows the current UK Guv is not responsible

[@Leeside999]

that gave me goosebumps

[@verdicapirro6715]

Me tooo

[@heliomota3452]

Belíssima canção

[@walsh5799]

Its nice to see you brits are coming to see that Ireland unfree shall never be at peace. But thats not to say we cant make peace.

[@mariontimmons2670]

Ah fair play what a lovely rendition well done god be in our prayer and song.x

[@Leeside999]

I hope after 5 years you'll have realised how cringy that comment was.

[@nagehdroubi1]

The Irish are great people, long live Ireland ,Love from Syria 💚.

[@sherp2u1]

🥰We are all struggling little countries...😘

[@jofasable]

@@sherp2u1 also, long live Syria 👍

[@jofasable]

hmmm ?

[@carlot7999]

Each time I listen to it, I feel „goose skin“ (?).Inspiring to accompany that son by pipes…..

[@erintilley6552]

Wait till you hear the Irish sing it at the rugby world cup recently while the New Zealand team did the Haka. Chilling.

[@austinhenry6377]

To me ... a great song ... beautifully song by a fabulous choir. No need to read anything else into it

[@Leeside999]

exactly

[@gerhardgiedrojc991]

A very dry and clinical version of a very passionate and heartbreaking song.

[@sherp2u1]

I wonder if they realize what they are singing about?

[@Rich-cq4gz]

It’s a brave tribute to the people of Ireland, don’t let the future be dictated by the mistakes of the past.

[@sherp2u1]

Mistakes? You mean the North or so? I'm not sure 800 years of occupation and an enforced famine was a mistake...Thanks anyway!

[@jackmekauff3265]

are you compos mentis?

[@jackmekauff3265]

@@sherp2u1 You're a slave to the past. Get over yourself.

[@Eire1916.]

Tiocfaidh ár lá, Eìre go Bragh. 🇮🇪

[@andrewmacaleer2935]

Éire 1916 ur day will never come

[@missjo174]

Éire 1916 knxbs

[@Joeavfc1]

@@andrewmacaleer2935 see Andrew you have an Irish name yourself and your saying our day will never come but this song is singing out against the crown😂

[@MrJohnny3shoes]

@@andrewmacaleer2935 Tiocfaidh Ár Lá.

[@kennethlaw6831]

Fantastic

[@wmeemw994]

What a huge chorale - must be nearly 3oo, maybe more and timing & enunciation allows perfect clarity of words.

[@bighag9773]

It is very upbeat for such a sad song.

[@robertpaterson9005]

Goosebumps

[@VisinskiRadoviBeograd]

Who's against the British crown among these singers?

[@richardsquince6487]

Some of us Brits (i call myself a Londoner being half immigrant and married to an immigrant and with an emigrant daughter) are anti imperialist and pro republican !and sing this song with a real passion. Lets end one of the colonisations in history!

[@taylorw]

The singers wearing a certain shade of green?

[@SmcdMcd-d2k]

Beautiful rendition. From ireland

[@paddy_wax]

YES!!!!

[@tonyregan8591]

What a lovely choir

[@stephen3540]

Oh my sides are splitting with laughter 😂😂 I never thought I'd see the day when those horrible neighbours would be singing Fields of Athenry. Tiocfaidh Ar La 🇮🇪

[@LondonCityVoices]

Ah, so Stephen, níl tú in ann léamh chomh maith le bheith an amadán? Dún do chlab, a phleiche, agus oideachas a chuir ort féin.

[@jmh25]

Paddy Reilly would be proud of this version.

[@LondonCityVoices]

As an Irishman, that means a lot! Thank you!

[@brianmaguire6521]

i completely agree with you.

[@maureenmartin4730]

They should learn the song Grace….

[@dannytracey9044]

"Against the famine and the crown"😂 Just find hilarious British singing it. Beautiful performance however. Well done

[@LondonCityVoices]

Thank you. LCV is a choir based in London. However, it's made up of people from all over the world. We're represented by about 25 nationalities, including lots of Irish people, one of whom is myself.

[@rolandsievers1610]

@@LondonCityVoices Das ändert aber nichts daran, dass es unpassend erscheint, wenn ein Engländer dieses Lied singt.

[@jackmekauff3265]

@@LondonCityVoices Well said. I'm Irish and am in total agreement with you.

[@richardsquince6487]

Some of us Brits (i call myself a Londoner being half immigrant and married to an immigrant and with an emigrant daughter) are anti imperialist and pro republican and sing this song with a real passion. Lets end one of the longest colonisations in history!

[@HaiLsKuNkY]

@@rolandsievers1610 wissen sie, was das englische pale ist? als Großbritannien vom Katholizismus zum Protestantismus wechselte, blieb das englische pale katholisch... als der englische katholische König von der Tory-Regierung abgesetzt wurde und aus England wechselte, ging er zur Unterstützung zu den Pale... das katholische englische pale und die Protestanten standen sich in der Schlacht von Boyne gegenüber, in der die Protestanten gewannen... der Konflikt in Irland ist nicht einfach englisch gegen irisch. ein großer Teil der irischen Katholiken sind von den "english pale". do you know what the English pale is? when Britain changed from catholicism to Protestantism the English pale stayed catholic.. when the english catholic king was deposed by the tory government and changed out of England he went to the pale for support.. the catholic English pale and the protestants faced off at the battle of boyne where the protestants won.. the conflict in ireland is not simply english vs irish. a large part of the irish catholic are from the english pale..

[@robertshepherd8543]

A gesture? Anyway. I like their choice.

[@patchalmers8121]

Ten in a row

[@JohnMclellan-um1rj]

celtic fans kill it mon the hoops.

[@Silverblade61]

I am german and i am totally impressed. And I know !! what they are singing about ..... so Great Performance !!!

[@christineflannigan2783]

They are English and it was there ancestors that done that and I think they have a bloody cheek 2 sing this song and if u think this the best u heard listen 2 paddy riely

[@whhswhhs]

Sung so earnestly, this song about genocide.

[@cjsb22lr]

bollocks

[@niallyshere]

bollocks what?

[@cjsb22lr]

Not about genocide-------------------

[@niallyshere]

what do you think "the famine" was? "Against the famine and the crown, i rebelled they cut me down". It was genocide although the term didn't exist back then. I'd suggest reading Tim Pat Coogan's : The Famine Plot.

[@sherp2u1]

Basically our Holocaust, the famine was manufactured by the British Government! They shipped millions of tons of pork, beef, corn, wheat out of Ireland from 1845-1847! But those crops and produce were deemed too good for the Irish, the producers!

[@kieranmurphy8005]

Maybe the biggest stage Thomand park ...

[@philipowen3370]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jamesharaldburrows3153]

🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@karthiksheshadri6600]

beautifully sung; and there is something strangely fitting about the fact that this was sung by Londoners.

[@lesliemorrison2810]

Do the choir KNOW what they are singing? Not convinced - be kind to humankind? Love to you all.

[@delby66]

I believe they do Leslie. The terrible past that the Irish people suffered should and I hope will never be forgotten, but give these people some credit. They sing this lovely song with passion, so I believe they know what they are singing about.

[@Murph_gaming]

As mentioned in other comments the choir is made up of people from many nationalities including Irish. Do people seriously think a city like London is homogenously British?

[@SuperCj49]

They have been told of the history of the famine and also the meaning of the lyrics of the song

[@paulodriscoll5419]

Many Irish, many non English and the director is Irish. They know. Modern UK is aware and accepting of their horrendous role during the famine.

[@briandavis8939]

😢😭

[@franklynch1807]

The lady in the green dress in specs in the middle is hotxx

[@patsyoconner9506]

dream on boy

[@Fabio1945]

You took the words out of my mouth!!

[@bwfc1877]

🇵🇸

[@MavisTheDrone]

Shame the sound and video are out of sync.

[@apuiitochhawng]

Lovely! The parts should have been more pronounced.