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"Kilkelly, Ireland" is a contemporary ballad composed by American songwriter Peter Jones. It tells the story of an Irish family whose son emigrated to America, via a series of letters sent from the father back in Kilkelly. It has five stanzas, covering the period from 1860 to 1892.
The song's narrator is emigrating from Ireland to America, and the song is both a meditation on this and a statement of purpose. Some versions have Australia and not America as the emigrant's destination. [1] The song is played in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum's exhibit on Kennedy's Trip to Ireland. [1]
During the mid-19th century, Irish immigrants worked to build railways in the United Kingdom and the United States. The song reflects the work that thousands of Irish section crews did as track layers, gaugers, spikers, and bolters. [8] The song begins in 1841, during the time of the Irish diaspora.
Michelle Branch – part Irish through her father [1] Laura Branigan – singer-songwriter and musician; Jeff Buckley – estranged son of Tim Buckley; Tim Buckley – father was the son of Irish immigrants; Chris Byrne – pop musician [2] Mariah Carey – pop musician [3] Aaron Carter – singer and Nick Carter's brother
The song has an 'upbeat' rhythm and is meant to be the words of an Irishman returning to his native County Donegal after becoming successful in the United States. Dear Old Donegal was also performed by Judy Garland , Zina Bethune , and Vic Damone as part of the All-Purpose Holiday Medley on The Judy Garland Show in 1963. [ 1 ]
The song went on to become a worldwide Saint Patrick's Day anthem [2] and its familiar strains are heard on the occasion around the world annually. The lively upbeat song is a favourite played by military and school marching bands everywhere and is now a standard sound for the "Great Day" as popular as "The Wearing of the Green" and has been firmly embedded in Irish-American culture.
The usage of "moonshine" instead of "poitín" suggests that the song may have originated in America. However, there is no definitive proof of the song's provenance. [3]: 134–5 Irish actor Liam Redmond believed it was an "American drinking song". [4]: 100–1 The song was a staple for Delia Murphy throughout her career.
"Thousands Are Sailing" was one of the inspirations for the graphic novel Gone to Amerikay, by Derek McCulloch and Colleen Doran. [2]The first few seconds of the song serve as a repeating sample in Berry Sakharof's song 'White Noise' (Hebrew: רעש לבן, Ra-ash Lavan), from his 1993 album "Signs of Weakness".