Oh the Londonderry Air

Oh the Londonderry Air July 20, 2017

Derry, (officially name Londonderry thanks to the Brits etc.) is the second largest city in Northern Ireland after Belfast. We were there on a quite soggy day, but nonetheless got to see a few things. We had a walking tour, that unfortunately didn’t bother to take us into St. Columb’s cathedral, the pictures of which, on the interior, are beautiful. So, I can only show you the outside. idid1

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Derry is a walled city.. as the following will attestid7id9id12

From the walls, you can get a glimpse of the effects of the ‘troubles’ as they call them, which has to do with two factions in northern Ireland— one Catholic and one Protestant, though the struggles are more ethnic than religious to be sure. To be clear, this has nothing much to do with Ireland proper in the south, it is two sides in northern Ireland. Here’s a picture that tells you things may be quiet now, but the struggle is not dead and buried. id13id14id15id16

Of more interest to me is the fact that Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander lived here, and wrote some of the best hymns ever while living in Derry.id17 For example, she wrote ‘All Things Bright in Beautiful’, ‘There is a Green Hill’, and the Christmas hymn ‘Once in Royal David’s City. And while we are on the subject of music— about that Londonderry Air. It was and is a very popular tune that originated in northern Ireland, in the county of Londonderry. You will know the tune because it was taken as the music for the famous song ‘O Danny Boy’, the lyrics for which come from the early 20th century. As for the air itself, Jane Ross of Limavaday, a small place outside Londonderry submitted the traditional tune to be included in the 1855 edition of a book entitled The Ancient Music of Ireland, edited by George Petrie. No one really knows who wrote this music in the first place, as is typical with many old folk songs. I mention all this because music, and dancing, are absolutely fundamental to the Irish identity,as is made clear by the harp which is the national symbol.


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