Mursheen Durkin

The Irish folk song "Muirsheen Durkin" tells the story of an emigrant from Ireland who goes to mine for gold in California during the California Gold Rush, 1849.[1] The song is about emigration, although atypically optimistic for the genre. The name "Muirsheen" is a good phonetic approximation to the pronunciation of "Máirtín" (Martin) in Connacht Irish; it could alternatively be construed as a diminutive of "Muiris" (Maurice). A pratie is a potato, the historical staple crop of Ireland. "America" is pronounced "Americay", as was common among Gaelic peoples around Ireland.[2]

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The air to which it is sung is "Cailíní deasa Mhuigheo" (pretty girls of Mayo), which is a popular reel dating from the 19th century.[3]

Performers

The song reached prominence when Johnny McEvoy's recording reached no. 1 in Ireland in 1966.[4]

It has been covered by the following artists (and others):

Variations

"Molly Durkin" is a derivation made popular by Murty Rabbett in the 1940s in the United States.[5] The song has a lively tempo and tells a whimsical tale of a man who decides to give up his work as a mortar shoveller in order to take up mining gold. The song is not so much a song of leaving Ireland as it is an Irishman's response to a woman's scorn.[6]

Recordings:

  • Murty Rabbett & His Gaelic Band: "Farewell To Ireland" Properbox 3(P1109-12) (1999/2005)
  • Ballinasloe Fair-Early Recordings Of Irish Music In America Traditional Crossroads CD 4284, CD (1998/2005)

References
  1. Sean McMahon, A Little Bit of Heaven
  2. Jonathan Baron, "A Narrow Sea – Episode 59 – The Hamely Tongue", BBC.co.uk
  3. Colm Ó Lochlainn, More Irish Street Ballads, Dublin, 1965. p. 72
  4. "Johnny McEveoy". Arts. County Kildare Community Network. February 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  5. Folk Index
  6. Lyrics from The American Songbook, by Jerry Silverman
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