Percy French

Re: Percy French

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 23:45:13 PST

This old beer mat, in the family for many years, shows the scene where the young Irish emigrant meets an old acquaintance from his days in County Armagh or County Down. It most probably represents an RIC man, Peter O'Loughlin, now in the London Metropolitan Police.

The song is a whimsical look at the styles, attitudes and fashions of late nineteenth century London as seen from the point of view of a somewhat naive young visitor from a village near the Mountains of Mourne. It is written as if the singer is sending a message to his friend back home.

"The Mountains of Mourne"

by Percy French (1896)

Oh, Mary, this London's a...

Re: Percy French

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:56:39 PST

In 1910 Percy French composed this little ditty about the antics of a couple of the old RIC and their exertions to deter crime in a little Irish townland. It is set to the air of an old Irish arrangement.

It was Sergeant Kilray of the Cavan police
Was heard for to say "Crime's on the increase
And the worst of the lot for breakin' the law
Are the boys that you've got in Tullinahaw
Cattle they're drivin' tarable tarable
Wantin' the whole of Ireland arable
Mischief that soon would be irreparable
If it's not squinch'd in Tullinahaw"
So Sergeant Kilray and Constable Flynn
They started away that night to begin
Bringin' a taste of order and law
For man and for baste in Tullinahaw

Well, now they lay by the wall and they kep' wide awake
Till they saw a man haulin' a cow to the lake
"Honest man tell me now is that cow all your own?"
"Is it me own a cow that's all skin and...

Percy French

feeds@yuku.com (Peter Mc RIC) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:42:37 PST

Percy French was perhaps Ireland's most famous songwriter and entertainer. Every Irishman is well acquainted with such songs as 'The Mountains of Mourne', 'Phil the Fluter's Ball' and of course 'Flattery's Mounted Fut'; and who can forget that immortal refrain 'Come back, Paddy Reilly, to Ballyjamesduff'?

William Percy French (1 May 1854 – 23 January 1920) was born at Cloonyquin House, Elphin, Co. Roscommon. Initially a civil engineer, he had an artistic calling and produced numerous paintings, mostly landscapes. He later turned to journalism and entertaining; composing and performing his songs in music halls across Great Britain. He was indeed one of the most famous entertainers of his times.

I have been a great fan of Percy French for many years, having grown up to the sound...