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Thank you for visiting The Crankie Island Song Project, a labour of love for the last few years, and I’m delighted to be finally be able to share it with you all.

A project, with 32 songs (one for every county), 32 original illustrations

and featuring over 70 musicians, artists and technicians.

Sit back, and enjoy a leisurely meander through Ireland's history using it's traditional songs interpreted by contemporary illustrators by means of the intriguing and versatile "Crankie Box"

What is a Crankie?

The Crankie Box

The Crankie box is a vintage storytelling device. It uses hand-cranked rolling illustrations to add a visual to stories, music and song. They come in many styles and sizes, and can be crudely made from up cycled material or more polished, like a mini-theatre. Closely related to puppetry, the illustrated scroll can be accompanied by shadow puppetry among other styles.

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Music & Video


All 32 videos featuring original artworks commissioned from contemporary artists and illustrators are almost all available to watch on our YouTube channel, and indeed the full 32 track album is ready now, to listen to, or buy, on our Bandcamp.
 

The Crankie Island Song Project.
The Rocks of Bawn - Cathy Jordan & Lisa O'Neill (Crankie Island Song Project)
04:36

The Rocks of Bawn - Cathy Jordan & Lisa O'Neill (Crankie Island Song Project)

"The Rocks of Bawn" Co. Cavan Cathy Jordan Vocals, Accordion Lisa O’Neill - Vocals, Shrutti Box Peter Crann - Artwork (An 18th Century song referring to the displacement of native Irish farmers from their traditional lands during the reign of Oliver Cromwell) Although some might think of the song as being from Galway or Donegal, it is deemed to be from Cavan in Sam Henry’s songs of the people and by traditional song collector, John Moulden. www.crankieisland.com Peter Crann - Project Coordinator Thanks to The Arts Council Of Ireland for their support. Cathy Jordan’s Crankie Island 32 track album available now on Bandcamp https://cathyjordan.bandcamp.com/album/the-crankie-island-song-project Recorded at the Magic Room Cairns Hill Sligo Engineered by Brian McDonogh Mastered by Richie Ford Lyrics Come all you loyal heroes wherever you may be Don't toil with any master 'till you know what your work will be For you must rise up early from the clear daylight till the dawn And you never will be able for to plough the rocks of Bawn My shoes they are well worn, my socks are wearing thin And my heart is always trembling for fear they might give in My heart is always trembling from the clear daylight till the dawn For fear I wont be able to plough the rocks of Bawn My curse upon you Sweeney you have me nearly robbed You're sitting by the fireside with you doogeen in your gob You're sitting by the fireside from the clear daylight 'till the dawn And you never will be able now to plough the rocks of Bawn Rise up gallant Sweeney and get your horses hay And give them a good feed of oats before they start the day Don't feed him on soft turnip put him out on yon green lawn Or he never will be able for to plough the rocks of Bawn I wish the Queen of England would send for me in time And place me in some regiment all in my youth of prime I'd fight for Ireland's glory from the clear daylight 'till the dawn And I would never return again to plough the rocks of Bawn
The Spanish Lady - Cathy Jordan (The Crankie Island Song Project)
05:10

The Spanish Lady - Cathy Jordan (The Crankie Island Song Project)

The Spanish Lady Dublin This old Dublin song has many versions, the lady in question is a “lady of the night” the odd and even numbers in this version are said to refer to ‘she had the odds and evens of it’ ie she had it all. Cathy Jordan - Vocals, Guitalele Anna Houston - Vocals, cello, Claudia Schwab - Vocals, violin, Rick Epping - Vocals, harmonica Concertina Seamie O’Dowd - Vocals, Guitalele Jon Berkeley - Original crankie illustrations www.crankieisland.com Peter Crann - Production Coordinator Thanks to The Arts Council Of Ireland for their support. Cathy Jordan’s Crankie Island 32 track album available now on Bandcamp https://cathyjordan.bandcamp.com/album/the-crankie-island-song-project Recorded in Scott Nolan’s studio Winnipeg Canada Engineered by Jamie Sitar Mastered by Richard Ford Lyrics (and numbers): As I went down through Dublin City at the hour of 12 at night Who should I see but the Spanish lady washing her feet by candle light First she washed them then she dried them, over a fire of amber coals In all my life I never did see a maid so sweet about the souls She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 none She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1 As I came back through Dublin City at the hour of half past eight Who should I see but the Spanish lady combing her hair in the broad daylight First washed it then she brushed it, I her lap lay a silvery comb In all my life I near did see a maid so sweet as I did roam She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 none She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1 As I came back through dublin city, just as the sun was about to set Who should I see but the Spanish lady catching a moth in a golden net When she saw me then she fled me lifting her petticoats ore her knee In all my life I nare did see a maid so shy as this lady She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 none She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1 Round and round goes the wheel of fortune, where it rests now wearies me, fair maid they are so deceiving sad experience teaches me Old age has laid her hand upon me, cold as a fire of ashy coals Where is the lovely Spanish lady so mortal neat as I did roam She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 none She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1
"Sliabh Gallion Braes" - Cathy Jordan
04:45

"Sliabh Gallion Braes" - Cathy Jordan

"Sliabh Gallion Braes" Co. Tyrone This songs tells of the eviction of tenant farmers in Tyrone Cathy Jordan - Vocals Roger Tallroth - Guitars Gustaf Ljunggren - Lap Steel, ewi Lars Andreas Huag - Tuba Jim Mckee - Artwork Dualta Mckee - Crankie operator Peter Crann - Production Coordinator Thanks to The Arts Council Of Ireland for their support. The 32 track album "Crankie Island song Project" is available now on Bandcamp https://cathyjordan.bandcamp.com/album/the-crankie-island-song-project Recorded and mixed in Studio Strandgatan, Uppsala Sweden Engineered by Martin Igelstrom Mastering by Bernie Becker Produced by Roger Tallroth Music Arranged - Jordan, Tallroth, Ljunggren Lyrics; As I was walkin' one morning all in the month of May To view all your mountains and valleys so gay, I was thinking on the flowers all going to decay That bloom around ye, bonny, bonny Slieve Gallion Braes. Full of times I have wandered with my dog and my gun, I'd ramble these mountains and your valleys for fun, But those days they now all over and I can no longer stay So farewell unto you bonny, bonny, Slieve Gallion Braes. How oft in the evening with the sun all in the west I walked hand in hand with the one I love best But the hopes of youth are ended and I am far away So farewell unto you bonny bonny Slieve Gallion Braes 'tis not for the want of employment at home That causes the son of ould Ireland to roam, But the rates were gettin' higher and I could no longer stay So farewell unto you bonny, bonny, Slieve Gallion Braes. Our isle it will be green and our cottages be gay Our children will be clothed and our wives will drink strong tea Oh you tyrannizing landlords - I will no longer stay So farewell unto to you bonny bonny Slieve Gallion Braes
"The Patriot Game"
04:52

"The Patriot Game"

"The Patriot Game" Co. Monaghan The song was originally written about an incident during the border campaign launched by the Irish Republican Army during the 1950s, but has evolved into an anti-war song over the years. Liam Clancy adapted one of the lines to "So I gave up my boyhood to drill and to train, to play my own part in the patriot game" Lyrics Dominic Behan 1928 -1989 Melody Traditional - One Morning In May Cathy Jordan - Vocals Donal Clancy - Vocals and guitar Anne-June Callaghan - Original crankie illustrations Peter Crann - Production Coordinator Thanks to The Arts Council Of Ireland for their support. 32 track album available now on Bandcamp https://cathyjordan.bandcamp.com/album/the-crankie-island-song-project Recorded in Doon Studios Waterford Engineered by Benny McCarthy And the Blue Room studio Grange Sligo Engineered by Luke Devaney Mastered by Richard Ford Come all you young rebels and list while I sing For love of one's country is a terrible thing It banishes fear with the speed of a flame And makes us all part of the patriot's game My name is O'Hanlon, I've just gone sixteen My home is in Monaghan and where I was weaned I've learned all my life cruel England’ to blame So now I am part of the patriot game It's barely a year since I wandered away With a local battalion of the bold IRA I've read of our heroes, I've wanted the same to play up my part in the patriot's game They told me how Connolly was shot in a chair His wounds from the battle all bloody and bare His fine body twisted, all tattered and lame They soon made him part of the patriot's game This Ireland of ours has for long been half free Six counties are under John Bull's tyranny So I gave up my boyhood to drill and to train To play my own part in the patriot game Now as I lie here my body all holes I think of those traitors who bargained and sold I wish that my rifle had given the same For those Quislings who sold out the patriot game
The Girl I left Behind Me - Cathy Jordan (The Crankie Island Song Project)
04:31

The Girl I left Behind Me - Cathy Jordan (The Crankie Island Song Project)

"The Girl I left Behind Me" Representing Co. Carlow, as party of Cathy Jordan's Crankie island Song Project. www.crankieisland.com A 14 year old boy from Carlow meets a colonel, who enlists him in the Wicklow Rangers. He leaves his girl behind. Her friends tell her not to worry. If he survives his enlistment he will return to his darling. Cathy Jordan - Vocals, bodhran Donal Clancy - Vocals, guitar Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl - Bouzouki, whistle, uilleann pipes Benny McCarthy - Accordion Patricia Correia - Original Crankie illustrations Peter Crann - Production Coordinator Tony Travers - Crankie Box technician Thanks to The Arts Council Of Ireland for their support. Cathy Jordan’s Crankie Island 32 track album available now on Bandcamp https://cathyjordan.bandcamp.com/album/the-crankie-island-song-project Lyrics adapted by Cathy Jordan Recorded in Doon Studious Waterford engineered Benny McCarthy Mixed by Billy Sutton Mastered by Richie Ford Lyrics: Come all you handsome comely maids that lives near Carlow dwelling Beware of young men’s flattering tongues with words to you they’re telling Beware of the kindest words they say be wise and never mind them For if they were to be talking till they die they’d still leave you behind them. I was scarcely eighteen years of age when I was broken-hearted I was deep in love for seven long years when first my jewel he parted These maidens wonder why I’m mourn and bid me not to mind him For he will have more grief than joy for the leaving of you behind him. In Carlow town I was brought up all free from debt or dangers When Colonel Reilly listed me to join the Wicklow Rangers He dressed me up in scarlet red and treated me most kindly But still I thought my heart would break for the girl I left behind me. Oh me and my comrade both walked out one day for recreation Me and my comrade both walked out to view a pleasant station Me and my comrade both sat down while fair maids sat beside us And we raised a glass and drank a toast to the girls we left behind us. Right angrily these maids arose saying we can stay no longer For if we're not home by milking time I’m sure there will be anger Sit down my handsome comely maids your cows are all in clover Sit down fair maids and be content for your milking days are over. It's not my love I blame I own all for our separation That left me wandering far from home to a distant nation But if ever I get liberty no one shall ever bind me I’ll see my native land once more and the girl I left behind me
Pat Reilly - Cathy Jordan (The Crankie island Song Project)
06:21

Pat Reilly - Cathy Jordan (The Crankie island Song Project)

"Pat Reilly" Co. Longford www.crankieisland.com Eddie Butcher’s version adapted by Cathy Jordan - Recruitment Silver-tongued recruiting sergeant meets naive youth, inveigles him into a public house and offers him the “King’s shilling”. The young man awakes the next day on the parade ground—bemoans his lot and blames all on his dishonest father. Cathy Jordan - Voice Anna Houston - Cello, voice Claudia Schwab - Violin, harmony Rick Epping - Harmonica Concertina voice Seamie O’Dowd - Guitar, mandola, voice Patrina Prunty - Artwork Art Counihane - Crankie Box Construction Nathan Sheridan - Videography David & Peter Crann - Editing Oliver Keogh - Actor Thanks to Shane Crossan from The County Longford Arts Office for his help. Peter Crann - Production Coordinator Thanks to The Arts Council Of Ireland for their support. Cathy Jordan’s Crankie Island 32 track album available now on Bandcamp https://cathyjordan.bandcamp.com/album/the-crankie-island-song-project Recorded in the Magic room sligo Brian McDonagh Engineer Richie Ford - Mastering Lyrics; Oh, as I went a-walking one morning in May I met Sergeant Johnston along the highway. Says the sergeant to Pat Reilly, – You are a clever young man, Will you go to John Kelly’s where we’ll have a dram? Then as we sat smoking and drinking our dram Says the sergeant to Pat Reilly, – you are a handsome young man, Oh, would you list, take the shilling, and come away with me To the sweet county Longford, strange faces you’ll see. Oh, I took the shilling and the reckoning was paid, The ribbons were bought and we hoist the cockade. Oh, but early next morning sure we all had to stand Up before our grand general with our hats in our hand. He says to Pat Reilly, – You are a shade rather low, Unto some other regiment I’m afraid you must go. Oh, I took the shilling and the reckoning was paid, The ribbons were bought and we hoist the cockade. – Oh, let me go where I will, sure I’ve no one to mourn For my mother she is dead and will never return. My father got married and fetched a stepmother home, She fairly denies me and does me disown. Oh, I took the shilling and the reckoning was paid, The ribbons were bought and we hoist the cockade. Oh, had my father been honest man and learnt me my trade I never would have listed nor hoist the cockade. It's not in the morning that I sing my song it's in the cold evening as I march alone With my gun ore my shoulder I bitterly do weep When I think of my true love who now lies asleep Oh, I took the shilling and the reckoning was paid, The ribbons were bought and we hoist the cockade.
"The Blooming Bright Star Of Belle Isle" - Cathy Jordan
05:03

"The Blooming Bright Star Of Belle Isle" - Cathy Jordan

"The Blooming Bright Star Of Belle Isle" Co. Fermanagh A song of a successful courtship, told through the eyes of an onlooker. It tells of a lover who returns after a long absence and tests his sweetheart's fidelity before revealing himself. It appears to be a Newfoundland adaptation of an Irish song, Lough Erin’s Sweet Riverside. Cathy Jordan - Vocals, uke guitar Sean Óg Graham - guitar, bouzouki Niamh Dunne - Violin Amy Bogard - Artwork https://www.amybogard.com Peter Crann - Production Coordinator Thanks to The Arts Council Of Ireland for their support. 32 track album available now on Bandcamp https://cathyjordan.bandcamp.com/album/the-crankie-island-song-project Recorded at Bann View Studios Portglenone Engineered by Sean Óg Graham Mastered by Richard Ford Lyrics; One evening for pleasure I rambled To view the fair fields all alone Down by the banks of Loch Erin Where beauty and pleasure were known I spied a fair maid at her labor Which caused me to stay for a while I thought her the Goddess of Beauty The blooming bright star of Belle Isle I humbled myself to her beauty "Fair maiden, where do you belong? Are you from the heavens descended Abiding in Cupid's fair throng?" "Young man, I will tell you a secret It's true I'm a maid who is poor And to part from my vows and my promise Is more than my heart can endure Therefore I'll remain at my service And go through all hardship and toil And wait for the lad that has left me Alone on the banks of Belle Isle" "Young maiden I wish not to banter Tis true I came here in disguise I came to fulfill my last promise And hoped to give you a surprise I own you're the maid I love dearly You've been in my heart all the while For me there is no other damsel Than the blooming bright star of Belle Isle May the great god in heaven protect them And loyalty be there's all the while And soft honey will sweeten the comforts Of the blooming bright star of Belle Isle

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