Re: [Harp-L] Danny Boy

[Tom Ball <havaball@xxxxxxx>]

RE; Danny Boy (AKA Londonderry Air, Derry Air and Old Irish Air:)

The music is credited to Rory Dall O'Cathain who was chief harpist to 
Hugh O'Neill, the last of the great Gaelic Chieftains (d. 1616.) 
Incidentally the "London" add on to "Derry" is relatively recent by 
Irish standards, occurring around 1610, but "Derry" itself is only 
the Anglicized version of the earlier Gaelic name of the town, "Doire 
Colmcille."  Translated to English, "Doire Colmcille" means "The Oak 
Wood Of Colmcille."  Therefore, since the Gaelic word for 'air' is 
'fonn,' perhaps the most accurate name for this piece might be "Fonn 
Doire Colmcille" (pronounced 'fun deera collumkill.')

-Tom Ball
In Santa Babs but sipping on a Jameson's