music culture

History of Ireland Through Song

}  All songs mentioned on this power-point are linked below the link to this lecture on Canvas.

}  Please let me know if any links are broken.

}  There is a long tradition of Irish music being used to document history, both national and local events.

}  Even today, songs documenting Irish events are sung in local pubs.

}  Even international groups such as U2 have documented Irish history through song.

}  British colony until 1921 }  Mostly Catholic }  Official Languages - Gaelic and English ◦  Gaeltacht = regions of Ireland where Gaelic is the

primary language ◦  See the map on the slide to see where the Gaeltacht

regions are (in green):

This article is about the Irish Gaelic-speaking area. For the Scottish Gaelic-speaking area, see Gàidhealtachd.

Official Gaeltacht regions in Ireland

Gaeltacht (/ˈɡeɪltəxt/; Irish pronunciation: [ˈɡeːl ̪ɣ t ̪ɣ əxt ̪ɣ ]; plural Gaeltachtaí) is an Irish-language word used to denote any primarily Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the term Gaeltacht refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home.[1] The boundaries of the Gaeltacht have included a high percentage of resident English-speakers since British colonisation.

The Gaeltacht districts were first officially recognised during the 1920s in the early years of the Irish Free State, following the Gaelic Revival, as part of a government policy aimed at restoring the Irish language.[2]

It is now recognised that the Gaeltacht is threatened by serious language decline.[3] Research published in 2015 showed that of the 155 electoral divisions in the Gaeltacht, only 21 are communities where Irish is spoken on a daily basis by 2/3 or more of the population.[4][5] 2/3 is regarded by some academics as a tipping point for language survival.[4]

An Ghaeltacht 1926; areas of the island of Ireland which would have qualified for Gaeltacht status according to the first Coimisiún na Gaeltachta

An Ghaeltacht 1956

History

}  Informal gathering for music, dance, song, storytelling, and poetry

}  Usually held in pubs or small private venues }  Mainly for the working class, non-

professional musician

}  Invaded Ireland from 500-300BC }  From Eastern Europe }  This is why Irish culture is non-Western and

separate from the rest of Europe }  It is the Celtic heritage that Ireland

emphasizes to distinguish themselves from England

}  Listen to “The Harp that once through Tara’s Halls,” a song that expresses nostalgia for the old Celtic aristocracy.

}  Irish Gaelic aristocracy before English colonization

}  Harpers and bards (poets) were part of the royal court

}  These musicians kept track of history and genealogy

}  They were also the primary entertainment for the court and their visitors

}  In Ireland by 5th century }  Set up Irish monasteries for education }  Also set up professional music schools }  Established Catholicism in Ireland }  Mandated that the harp would be the official

instrument to accompany church music

}  1171 - British colonialism of Ireland became official

}  Irish initially viewed as exotic, but later came to be seen as inferior by the British

}  They were treated as second-class citizens in their own country and were increasingly oppressed.

}  1532 - Henry VIII breaks from Catholic church (they wouldn’t grant him a divorce, so he started the Church of England)

}  This was another excuse to oppress the Irish }  Laws repressing Catholics were passed: ◦  No voting ◦  No participation in public life ◦  No ownership of land

}  Late 16th - early 17th centuries }  Completed the breakdown of Gaelic order

(Gaelic aristocracy lost all power) }  1603 - bards and harpers outlawed }  She feared that they were spies. }  People caught practicing the harp or bard

tradition were beheaded. }  The tradition moved to the rural areas of

Ireland, were the risk of being caught was lower.

}  The Irish started to resist their oppression as they realized that it was widespread.

}  Music was a popular way to document events and to let everyone know what was going on.

}  Listen to “The Diggers’ Song” ◦  This song is about a small peaceful rebellion that

ended in tragedy. }  Listen to “The Rocks of Bawn” ◦  This song is about the difficulties that Irish farmers

had working as sharecroppers on rocky soil in western Ireland after their land was confiscated in 1652.

}  English persecution continued to escalate, so people started to emigrate, mainly to Canada the the U.S.

}  1717-1776 - 200,000 people left Ireland }  1810s – another large wave of emigration ◦  Economic depression drove people away ◦  More Catholic repression also drove people away

}  Listen to “The Green Fields of Canada” ◦  This song idealizes emigration.

}  Now listen to “Edward Conners” (song starts at about 1:05) ◦  This song tells the realities of emigration.

}  AKA the Potato Famine }  1845-50 – diseases struck the potato plants,

causing them to rot }  Potatoes were the main staple of the Irish diet }  Over 1 million died }  1.6 million emigrated, again to Canada and

the U.S. }  By 1900, only ¼ of the population of Ireland

remained

}  Listen to “Thousands Are Sailing.” }  This song connects modern emigrants to

earlier emigrants. }  The band is the Irish punk band called The

Pogues. If you’re already a fan of this group, send me an email and tell me which of their songs is your favorite!

}  Ireland was completely devastated by the famine and years of emigration

}  The rebuilding of Ireland was a huge undertaking

}  Irish (political) party - mid 1880s ◦  Advocated “Home Rule” – in other words, they felt

they could rule themselves without England ◦  They didn’t accomplish anything specific, but they

planted an important idea that would eventually lead to independence.

}  Culture is an important way to promote/ express nationalism in all cultures.

}  Ireland needed something unique that expressed who they were as Irish people.

}  They drew upon their Celtic past and started to glorify it as being truly Irish.

}  There was an attempt to revive the Gaelic language.

}  Ancient Celtic art and folklore were revived and promoted.

}  1916 Easter Rising: a small group of rebels attempted (unsuccessfully) to take over the cities of Ireland.

}  Listen to “The Foggy Dew.” }  1922 - formation of Irish free state }  1948 - Ireland completely free from British

rule

}  6 counties still part of U.K. }  This has been the cause of much turmoil in

Ireland known as “The Troubles.” }  Bloody Sunday – 1972; British troops fired on

an unarmed group of peaceful protesters, killing 13 people.

}  Members of the rock group U2 are Irish }  They often use their music to speak out on

important issues, continuing the Irish tradition.

}  Listen to “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” This song remembers “Bloody Sunday,” an event in 1972 in northern Ireland. British soldiers fired on peaceful protesters, killing 13 people. The British government only officially apologized for this event in 2010.