Elizabeth Cronin
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth "Bess" Cronin (née Ó hIarlaithe) (1879 – 1956) was an Irish
singer who specialized in traditional ("trad") music.
Born in West Cork
, the daughter of Seán Ó hIarlaithe, a schoolteacher, she lived in the Baile Bhuirne area all her life. She spent her teenage years on her uncle's farm nearby. She married Seán Ó Croinin and they lived at Carraig an Adhmaid, Ballymakeera
. The area was rich in traditional culture and music, and songs had been collected in the area for a long period and she became well known for the depth of her familiarity with the genre and for the quality of her songs and lore (in both English and Irish). Among the collectors of her work were Seán Ó Cuill and A. Martin Freeman, compiler of the famous Ballyvourney Collection.
Cronin was recorded by Séamus Ennis
in 1947 and 1952. He referred to her as the Muskerry Queen of Song. She was often featured on BBC
radio programmes. She was recorded by the American collector Alan Lomax
in 1951, and some of her songs are included in the Irish volume of his Columbia World Library of Folk and Primitive Music (New York 1955).
Various recordings and archive material were assembled by her grandson, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín
, for a book and CD
collection, The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin. Her songs have often been broadcast by Philip King
on RTÉ radio traditional music programmes including The Banks of Sullane.
She was the mother of the scholar Donncha Ó Croinin (died 1990) and folklore collector Seán Ó Croinin.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
singer who specialized in traditional ("trad") music.
Born in West Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
, the daughter of Seán Ó hIarlaithe, a schoolteacher, she lived in the Baile Bhuirne area all her life. She spent her teenage years on her uncle's farm nearby. She married Seán Ó Croinin and they lived at Carraig an Adhmaid, Ballymakeera
Ballymakeera
Baile Mhic Íre is a small Gaeltacht village in the valley of the River Sullane in County Cork, Ireland. It is on the N22 national primary road and forms part of the twin villages of Ballymakeery and Ballyvourney...
. The area was rich in traditional culture and music, and songs had been collected in the area for a long period and she became well known for the depth of her familiarity with the genre and for the quality of her songs and lore (in both English and Irish). Among the collectors of her work were Seán Ó Cuill and A. Martin Freeman, compiler of the famous Ballyvourney Collection.
Cronin was recorded by Séamus Ennis
Séamus Ennis
Séamus Ennis was an Irish piper, singer and folk-song collector.- Early years :In 1908 James Ennis, Séamus's father, was in a pawn-shop in London. Ennis bought a bag of small pieces of Uilleann pipes. They were made in the early nineteenth century by Coyne of Thomas Street in Dublin. James worked...
in 1947 and 1952. He referred to her as the Muskerry Queen of Song. She was often featured on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio programmes. She was recorded by the American collector Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax
Alan Lomax was an American folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He was one of the great field collectors of folk music of the 20th century, recording thousands of songs in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, Italy, and Spain.In his later career, Lomax advanced his theories of...
in 1951, and some of her songs are included in the Irish volume of his Columbia World Library of Folk and Primitive Music (New York 1955).
Various recordings and archive material were assembled by her grandson, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín
Dáibhí Ó Cróinín
Dáibhí Ó Cróinín is an academic Irish historian, the current Professor of History at the National University of Ireland, Galway . M.Phil., Ph.D. , and Member of the Royal Irish Academy. He is a grandson of Elizabeth Cronin , an Irish traditional singer...
, for a book and CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
collection, The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin. Her songs have often been broadcast by Philip King
Philip King (musician)
Philip King is a musician, film maker, and broadcaster. A founding member of the band Scullion, he is noted for his knowledge of the roots of Irish music and culture and its cross-fertilisation with those of the US in particular, he is a popular figure in Irish music circles...
on RTÉ radio traditional music programmes including The Banks of Sullane.
She was the mother of the scholar Donncha Ó Croinin (died 1990) and folklore collector Seán Ó Croinin.