Blind Mary (air)/ Anach Chuain (lament) - 6
Blind Mary was written by Turlough O'Carolan about 300 yrs. ago. There is
also a song in Irish of the same title "Máire Dhall." I am not sure of its origin
but it has the same melody.
I have seen the lament listed as "Anach Cuan." The second word is the same
but spelled differently because it is written in a different case. I will leave the
spelling to the Irish scholars but in any case, it is the town of Annaghdown,
located on the east shore of Lough Corrib. The great sadness in this story
was that nearly 20 men and women drowned within sight of shore, not in battle
but in an untrustworthy boat headed for the fair in Galway. Dave got the
lament from Tommy Standeven of Philadelphia, who is highly regarded for his
skill on the uillean pipes and as a Gaeilgeoir.
Dave Collins, bosca cheoil agus Treasa Ní Chatháin, giotár
