Tommy Makem RIP

[armaghniac]

Tommy Makem has said "Farewell to Carlingford" for the last time. Keady's most famous son is a sad loss.

[Fiodoir Ard Mhacha]

very sad news.

Always to be remembered for this (written as long ago as 1967):

What did I have, said the fine old woman
What did I have, this proud old woman did say
I had four green fields, each one was a jewel
But strangers came and tried to take them from me
I had fine strong sons, who fought to save my jewels
They fought and they died, and that was my grief said she

Long time ago, said the fine old woman
Long time ago, this proud old woman did say
There was war and death, plundering and pillage
My children starved, by mountain, valley and sea
And their wailing cries, they shook the very heavens
My four green fields ran red with their blood, said she

What have I now, said the fine old woman
What have I now, this proud old woman did say
I have four green fields, one of them's in bondage
In stranger's hands, that tried to take it from me
But my sons had sons, as brave as were their fathers
My fourth green field will bloom once again said she

[full back]

RIP

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis, one of the greats has gone. RIP.

[Donagh]

Sorry to hear that. His version of Four Green Fieldswas pretty much the definitive but my favourite will always be 'The Cobbler'

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=w8SETO8nrL8

[Hardy]

Very sad to hear about Tommy. Among his many talents, he was a very funny man and a fine writer of comic songs. I couldn't find a clip of Tommy himself singing this one, so this poor effort will have to do (The Town of Ballybay):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_rb37MNeQ

[Mack the finger]

Farewell to the bard of Armagh, Keadys most famous son.
RIP.

[Lecale2]

RIP. Sad news. He was an absolute gentleman and great craic.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MDoJL1gO2WI

[balladmaker]

Agree with all that has been said.  Tommy was one of the greats and a real gentleman.  I know it sounds clichéd, but he really was a gent, told it how it was.  He had a great stage presence and one which will be badly missed.

[Mack the finger]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mOWYhVbJZQg

Not one of his own, but great rendition all the same.

[SammyG]

Shocking news. Tommy was one of my all-time heroes, by a long way the best folk/ballad singer that I ever saw and always happy to have a natter or stop for a photograph.

RIP

[armaghniac]

This clip might be appropriate
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9J9518zSqWk

[Main Street]

And sad that he had such a long drawn out sickness.

His mother, Sarah had a brilliant voice, her versions of ballads are some of my favourites.

[Great Leap Forward]

He is a sad loss. Four Green Fields is the finest rebel song ever written. It is so understated and contains none of the bile that the 'bar stool republicans' sing in this day and age.

Gentle Annie was my favourite songs of all the ones he did.

[Hardy]

Indeed, Great Leap Forward. I experienced Tommy's attitude to barstool republicans in person once. It was in New York, in the seventies. Tommy was playing in a bar/club (I think it was Kenny's Castaways on Bleecker St., but I don't remember for sure). As he was tuning between songs, an ould wan (with an American accent) shouted "sing Rifles of the IRA".

"I will not, Mam", Tommy replied. "It's very easy to sit here, 3,000 miles away and sing about the IRA".