100 YEARS AGOAugust, 1913
THE lyrics of the famous song and some time Northern Ireland anthem Danny Boy were written to the tune of the Londonderry Air in 1913 by Frederick Wetherby and it is now one of the best loved songs of the last 100 years. Jane Ross from Limavady had collected the air from the blind fiddler Jimmy McCurry, who used to play at the market in the County Londonderry town. It’s been suggested the tune was actually composed by Rory Dall O’Cahan in the early 17th century as ‘O’Cahan’s Lament.’ It was later adapted as ‘Aislean an Oigfear’ or ‘The Young Man’s Vision’ by Magilligan harpist Dennis O’Hampsey.