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My Lagan Love

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"My Lagan Love" is a song to a traditional Irish air collected in 1903 in northern Donegal.

The English lyrics have been credited to Joseph Campbell (1879–1944, also known as Seosamh MacCathmhaoil and Joseph McCahill, among others). Campbell was a Belfast man whose grandparents came from the Irish-speaking area of Flurrybridge, South Armagh. He started collecting songs in County Antrim. In 1904 he began a collaboration with composer Herbert Hughes. Together, they collected traditional airs from the remote parts of County Donegal. While on holidays in Donegal, Hughes had learned the air from Proinseas mac Suibhne, who had learned it from his father Seaghan mac Suibhne, who in turn had learned it fifty years previously.

The Lagan referred to in the title most likely pertains to the area of good farming land between Donegal and Derry known in Irish as An Lagán. The Lagan is the river that runs through Belfast. However, some argue that the Lagan in the song refers to a stream that empties into Lough Swilly in County Donegal, not far from where Herbert Hughes collected the song.

The song was arranged in a classical style by Hamilton Harty; this was used by Mary O'Hara and Charlotte Church.

Covers

  • 1910: John McCormack
  • 1953: Margaret Barry on I Sang Through the Fairs (The Alan Lomax Portrait Series)
  • 1967: Dusty Springfield on her BBCTV series.
  • 1968: Emmet Spiceland on The First
  • 1976: Horslips on The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony (instrumental)
  • 1977: Bob McGrath on Sleepytime Bird
  • 1985: Kate Bush, bonus material on 1997 re-release of Hounds Of Love with some new lyrics written by Kate
  • 1987: Vermilion Sands on Water Blue
  • 1987: Capercaillie on Crosswinds as "My Laggan Love/Fox on the Town" (instrumental)
  • 1988: Van Morrison and The Chieftains on Irish Heartbeat
  • 1990: Meg Davis on The Claddagh Walk
  • 1994: Jean Redpath on Jean Redpath
  • 1995: Caroline Lavelle on Spirit as "Lagan Love"
  • 1997: James Galway and Phil Coulter on "Legends"
  • 1998: Charlotte Church on Voice of an Angel
  • 1998: Pentangle on Passe Avant
  • 1999: Sheila Chandra on Moonsung as "Lagan Love/Nada Brahma"
  • 1999: Carol Noonan on her recording Self-Titled as "Lagan Love"
  • 2002: Sinéad O'Connor on Sean-Nós Nua
  • 2003: Anuna on Invocation
  • 2004: Sharon Knight on Song of the Sea.
  • 2005: The Corrs on Home
  • 2009: Celtic Woman on Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart
  • 2010: Fionnuala Sherry on Songs From Before
  • 2011: Celtic Thunder on Storm
  • 2011: Lone Raven/Kara Markley on Flight to the Hinterlands
  • 2012: Lisa Hannigan and The Chieftains on The Chieftains: Voice of Ages
  • 2012: Niopha Keegan on lead vocals with The Unthanks on The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band
  • References

    My Lagan Love Wikipedia