The Cliffs of Dooneen or Avalon?

Leggi in italiano

“The Cliff of Dooneen” (Doneen, Dooneen, Duneen) is an Irish ballad from the 1930s (or late 19th century), made famous by Planxty; it spread to Great Britain after the post-war migration, Christy Moore heard a version in 1965 and made it popular in folk scene of the 70s.

(Photo: Philippe Gosseau)

Like Avalon, the Cliffs of Dooneen are not found in a specific place, but in the mists of myth and nostalgia.
Two counties contend this location near the mouth of the Shannon: Kerry near Beal and Clare (Cliffs of Moveen).
However, it is suspected that the confusion between the counties is an attempt to advertise the cliffs of Moher, that is one of the most charming places in Ireland.

It’s an emigration song, those who leave for distant lands regret their home and want to be buried in the places loved in their youth.

Stephen Megarity Uilleann Pipes

The Cliffs of Dooneen (Blear, Co. Kerry)

Cliffs of Doolin
Cliffs of Doolin

According to Beal’s people (Kerry Co.) the poem was penned by Jack McAuliffe of Lixnaw who wrote the original version during a visit to his sister in Dooneen Point near to Beal.

Jack McAuliffe poem (from MudcatCafè)
I
I have traveled afar from my own native home.
Away o’er the billows, away o’er the foam I have seen many sights but no equal I’ve seen
To the old rocky slopes by the cliffs of Dooneen
II
I have seen many sights of Columbus fair land,
Africa and Asia so delightful and grand,
But dig me a grave were the grass it grows green
On the old rocky slopes by the cliffs of Dooneen.
III
How pleasant to walk on a fine summers day.
And to view the sweet cherries (1) that will never decay,
Where the sea grass and seaweed and the old carrageen(2)
All grow from the rocks by the cliffs of Dooneen.
IV
The Sandhills of Beal (3) are glorious and grand,
And the old castle ruins (4) looking out on the strand,
Where the hares and the rabbits are there to be seen
Making holes for their homes by the cliffs of Dooneen.
V
I have tracked my love’s footsteps to the boathouse of old
And the dance on the hillside where love stories are told,
Its there you will see both the lad and the colleen
Moving round by the shore of the cliffs of Dooneen
VI
Take a view cross the Shannon some sites you will see there
High rocky mountains on the south coast of Clare (5)
The towns of Kilrush and Kilkee ever green
But theres none to compare with the cliffs of Dooneen
VII
Farewell Dooneen, Farewell for a while, And to those kind-Hearted neighbours that I left in the isle,
May my soul never rest till it’s laid on the green
Near the old rocky slopes by the Cliffs of Dooneen

Blear version

I have travelled afar from my own native home
Away over the mountains, across the white foam
But give me a home where the grass grows so green
By the old mossy slopes on the Cliffs of Dooneen






How nice tis to walk on a fine summer’s day
And to view the Skereens* that will never decay
Where the sea grass and sea weed and old carraigeen
Grow rich on the rocks by the Cliffs of Dooneen

The sandhills of Beale are lovely and grand
And the old castle’s ruins look out towards the strand
The rabbits in plenty today can be seen
Making holes for their homes by the Cliffs of Dooneen

My footsteps retreat to the boathouse of old
And the dance at the clash where love stories are told
Today you can see each lad and colleen
Walking round by the shore near the Cliffs of Dooneen






Farewell to Dooneen farewell for a while
And to all the nice neighbours I left on that isle
May my soul never rest till I lay on the green
On the old mossy slopes by the Cliffs of Dooneen

NOTES
1) these sea floor plants often grow in large “meadows” that resemble grazing. There are various types of red algae found along the coasts of Ireland – Great Britain: the alga dulse (Palmaria palmata) and the irish moss (Chondrus crispus also called Carragheen) which, when spread out and dried in the sun, turns to white in a characteristic “blonde” color!
2) what do cherry trees have to do with cliffs? I still don’t know the meaning of the word the Skereens (any algae?)
3) Corcas and Sandhills at Beal Point
4) in Beal you can still see the ruins of Beal Castle; it is interesting to read in the brief description of the ruins to mention the presence of numerous rabbit holes.
5) Dooneen Point is on the Kerry Coast, between Ballylongford and Ballybunnion at the Mouth of the River Shannon, giving excellent views of the South West of Clare

Ireland traveling through its songs

The first stop in Dooneen shows us some modest rocks, but wide beaches and some villages to visit (Ballylongford e Ballybunnion) with three ruins of castles, a 15th century abbey and a fairy hill (ring fort).

LINK
https://ballylongfordsnaps.com/
https://www.ballybunion.ie/
https://breenjohnny.wixsite.com/beal

The Cliffs of Dooneen (Moveen version co. Clare)

The most accredited (and not necessarily the original) version of The Cliffs of Dooneen is the one that identifies the cliffs with the “Cliffs of Moveen” in County Clare, a scenic walking route along the Kilkee Cliff Walk.
Nichols Carolan from the ITMA in Dublin attests: “[According to some] the song was originally located in Moveen, a few miles south west of Kilkee in Clare. The song was first recorded in Dublin in the 1960s sung by Siney Crotty who came from Kilbaha, which is on the Clare side of the Shannon. Since it’s first appearance it has gained enormous popularity. The Irish Traditional Music Archive has around one hundred and ninety commercial recordings of it.

Christy Moore tells in his web pageIt is a very simple piece of writing yet the combination of its lyric and music have people around the world. I have heard it sung in very different styles too. Margo recorded a “Country and Irish” version whilst Andy Rynne used to sing it in the Sean-Nós style”

Planxty
pictures from Cliffs of Moveen
Quadriga Consort
Christy Moore live

Christy Moore lyrics
I
You may travel far from your own native  home
Far away o’er the mountains, far away o’er the foam
But of all the fine places that I’ve ever seen
there’s none to compare with the Cliffs of Dooneen
II
Take a view o’er the mountains, fine sights you’ll see there
You’ll see the high rocky mountains o’er the West coast of Clare
Oh the towns of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen
From the high rocky slopes of the cliffs of Dooneen
III
It’s a nice place to be on a fine summer’s day
Watching all the wild flowers that ne’er do decay
Oh the hares and the loft pheasants are plain to be seen
Making homes for their young round the cliffs of Dooneen
IV
Fare thee well to Dooneen, fare thee well for awhile
And to all the kind people I’m leaving behind
To the streams and the meadows where late I have been
And the high rocky slopes of the cliffs of Dooneen

LINK
http://www.christymoore.com/lyrics/cliffs-of-dooneen/
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=77631
http://thesession.org/tunes/7157

Ireland traveling through its songs

The Moveen cliffs can all be covered on foot (in about three hours there and back) along a path of about 10 km starting from the village of Kilkee. Only part of the path is asphalted, the rest is on grass. Just looking at the satellite photo of the cliff makes me dizzy. They call it the Kilkee Cliff Walk: on the way you meet the Diamond Rocks (which shine in the sun due to the quartz veins) and picturesque stacks. Continuing on the dirt paths you arrive at Foonagh Bay from which you can see Bishops Island with the remains of a small church-hermitage. The arrival point is Castle Point. For the more daring, a climb on Moveen Hill allows you to reach the highest point (about 140 meters) of the Loop Head peninsula.

LINK
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/a-cliff-walk-more-awesome-than-cliffs-of-moher-hike-1.3772354
https://www.loophead.ie/where-to-go-in-ireland-kilkee-cliff-walk/

We left Kilkee and the Cliffs of Moveen and headed for Doolin

The rocky coast of Clare is the most indented in the Republic of Ireland and presents at every glimpse of the suggestive cliffs, among these the Cliffs of Moher are very famous and attract many tourists (not exactly the right place for those who prefer wild nature “solo “). Even in small near the villages of Doolin, Lisdoonarvana and Liscannor there are breathtaking sea cliffs. For those who love parks, a visit inside the Burren (Burren National Park) will be memorable, limestone rock and caves (the Aillwee Cave and the Doolin Cave), small ponds that form and disappear according to the season, a wild nature where take long walks and find some ancient settlements. The Burren National Park is in fact one of the best preserved archaeological landscapes in Europe.

LINK
https://www.thehikinglife.com/2010/10/cliffs-of-mohr-coastal-walk-ireland/
http://www.unamammaperguida.com/wp/2019/05/22/cliffs-of-moher-e-galway-5-tappa-del-viaggio-in-irlanda/

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Pubblicato da Cattia Salto

Amministratore e folklorista di Terre Celtiche Blog. Ha iniziato a divulgare i suoi studi e ricerche sulla musica, le danze e le tradizioni d'Europa nel web, dapprima in maniera sporadica e poi sempre più sistematicamente sul finire del anni 90

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