Éamonn an Chnoic
Encyclopedia
"Éamonn an Chnoic" is a popular song in traditional Irish music. It is a slow, mournful ballad
with a somber theme and no chorus
.
aristocrat who lived in County Tipperary
from 1670–1724 and led a bandit or rapparee
gang. Although there is no positive proof of Ryan's existence, he is mentioned in a pamphlet of 1694, in which he and four other raparee leaders called for the overthrow of William of Orange
in favour of the Catholic James II
.
The background to Ryan's career was the confiscation of Irish Catholic land in the Act of Settlement 1652 after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
when many dispossessed landowners became outlaws, known as "tories" or "rapparees". Their ranks were swelled after the Williamite War of 1689-91, when many of the defeated Catholic Jacobite
s turned to banditry. It is likely that Ryan himself served in the Jacobite army.
It is said that Ryan became a rapparee or outlaw after shooting a tax collector dead during a quarrel over the confiscation of a poor woman's cow. Various other stories are told in which Ó Riain plays the role of the rebel hero who battles authority in the mode of Robin Hood
and countless others.
, but various English
versions are popular as well. Here is one:
Other versions also highlight the failure of Ó Riain's countrymen to come to rally to his defense and more strongly emphasize that Ó Riain had been a man of wealth and influence. For example:
"Éamonn an Chnoic" has been recorded by countless artists in both English and Irish. Some versions, such as the "Young Ned of the Hill" recorded by The Pogues
, adapt the lyrics to a fast-tempo
song with only a passing similarity to the original folk song. Completely instrumental versions are also common. "Éamonn an Chnoic" is one of few contemporary Irish folk songs to which a harp
can easily carry the tune.
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
with a somber theme and no chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
.
Overview
The song concerns Éamonn Ó Riain (Edmund Ryan), an IrishIreland
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...
aristocrat who lived in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
from 1670–1724 and led a bandit or rapparee
Rapparee
Rapparees were Irish guerrilla fighters who operated on the Jacobite side during the 1690s Williamite war in Ireland. Subsequently the name was also given to bandits and highwaymen in Ireland - many former guerrillas having turned to crime after the war was over...
gang. Although there is no positive proof of Ryan's existence, he is mentioned in a pamphlet of 1694, in which he and four other raparee leaders called for the overthrow of William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
in favour of the Catholic James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
.
The background to Ryan's career was the confiscation of Irish Catholic land in the Act of Settlement 1652 after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
when many dispossessed landowners became outlaws, known as "tories" or "rapparees". Their ranks were swelled after the Williamite War of 1689-91, when many of the defeated Catholic Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
s turned to banditry. It is likely that Ryan himself served in the Jacobite army.
It is said that Ryan became a rapparee or outlaw after shooting a tax collector dead during a quarrel over the confiscation of a poor woman's cow. Various other stories are told in which Ó Riain plays the role of the rebel hero who battles authority in the mode of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
and countless others.
Song variants
The song is usually sung in IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, but various English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
versions are popular as well. Here is one:
- Oh dark is the evening and silent the hour
- Oh who is that minstrel by yon shady tower?
- Whose harp is so tenderly touching with skill
- Oh who could it be but young Ned of the Hill?
- And he sings, "Lady love, will you come with me now?
- Come and live merrily under the bough.
- I'll pillow your head where the light fairies tread
- If you will but wed with young Ned of the Hill.
- Young Ned of the Hill has no castle or hall,
- No bowmen or spearmen to come at his call.
- But one little archer of exquisite skill
- Has loosed a bright shaft for young Ned of the Hill.
- It is hard to escape to this young lady's bower
- For high is the castle and guarded the tower.
- But where there's a will there's always a way
- And young Eileen is gone with young Ned of the Hill.
Other versions also highlight the failure of Ó Riain's countrymen to come to rally to his defense and more strongly emphasize that Ó Riain had been a man of wealth and influence. For example:
- "Oh who is without
- That with passionate shout
- Keeps beating my bolted door?"
- "I am Ned of the Hill
- Forspent wet and chill
- From long trudging marsh and moor."
- "My love, fond and true
- What else could I do
- But shield you from wind and from weather?
- When the shots fall like hail
- They us both shall assail
- And mayhap we shall die together."
- "Through forest and through snow
- Tired and hunted I go
- In fear both from friend and from neighbor
- My horses run wild
- My acres untilled
- And they all of them lost to my labor
- But it grieves me far more
- Than the loss of my store
- That there's none who would shield me from danger
- So my fate it must be
- To fare eastward o'er sea
- And languish amid the stranger"
"Éamonn an Chnoic" has been recorded by countless artists in both English and Irish. Some versions, such as the "Young Ned of the Hill" recorded by The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
, adapt the lyrics to a fast-tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
song with only a passing similarity to the original folk song. Completely instrumental versions are also common. "Éamonn an Chnoic" is one of few contemporary Irish folk songs to which a harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
can easily carry the tune.
External links
- Podcast - The Writers Passage 5 by Steve Dunford Dunford narrates biography from Cashel in County Tipperary where Edmond O' Ryan/Éamonn an Chnoic met his end.