ISBN 0-900960-21-4

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ONE GREEN HILL
Journeys through Irish songs
John McLaughlin

Irish songs are the touchstones of tradition. Often fiercely partisan, they provide 
passionate expressions of history and politics. They keep alive the stories 
of battles, heroes and events, influencing generations of Irish people, often 
far from Ireland's shores. 

Like many people, John McLaughlin was learning the songs of the unionist 
and nationalist traditions, years before understanding their full significance. 
He was singing My Lagan Love long before he had any idea where the river 
Lagan was.

What exactly are the origins of the words and music of these songs? How 
faithful are they to the historical events which inspired them and how do we 
separate the real story from the myths and propaganda? How do we find the 
places to which they refer? 
 
John McLaughlin answers these questions by investigating twenty-one of 
Ireland's finest songs, telling us about the great song writers and covering many 
of the most important events in the long, complex and much-disputed story of 
the country. In so doing he provides a song, history and travel book all in one. 
One Green Hill is a rewarding voyage of discovery through Irish music, history 
and landscapes.

Irish ballads are among the most popular in the English speaking world, but 
they also often generate controversy. However, with little regard for fear or 
favour, the author tackles head-on songs as politically and culturally diverse 
as the loyalist favourite Dolly's Brae and the republican anthem Sean South of 
Garryowen ­ his aim being to get at what Thomas Davies called 'the gem-like 
history' contained in the songs. 

Included are songs with stories of the Plantation of Ulster, the Battle of the 
Boyne, the 1798 Rebellion, the Great Famine, the Fenians, the Black and 
Tans, Ireland's bitter Civil War, the Orange Order and the IRA prior to the 
eruption of the 'Troubles' in 1969.

Full list of songs featured:
Outlaw Rapparee
Derry's Walls
The Green Grassy Slopes of the Boyne 
The Bard of Armagh
The Boys of Mullaghbawn
Boolavogue
Kelly the Boy from Killanne
Henry Joy
General Monro
Roddy McCorley
The Man from God Knows Where
The West's Awake
Dolly's Brae
Skibbereen
The Bold Fenian Men
The Hackler from Grouse Hall
My Lagan Love
James Connolly
The Scarriff Martyrs
The Drumboe Martyrs
Sean South of Garryowen


The author's voyage of discovery takes us the length and breadth of Ireland,  from Cork 
to Donegal, from Galway to Belfast and Dublin. 

The book includes an extensive discography.

Beautifully produced and illustrated hardback edition only.

224 x 144mm
240pp.  

Hardback 
ISBN 1-900960-21-4       Price  £14.99