The Fields of Athenry

"The Fields of Athenry" is a song about the Irish Famine of the late 1840s, which was composed in the 1980s by Pete St. John, a prolific composer of widely sung modern ballads; his other most famous song is "Dublin in the Rare Ol' Time"'. His songs often express regret for the loss of old certainties (the latter song regrets the loss of Nelson's Pillar and the Metropole Ballroom, two symbols of old Dublin, as progress makes a 'city of my town'). "The Fields of Athenry" is widely seen as the definitive folk song on the Famine, telling the story of the Famine through the personal experiences of someone gaoled and deported.

Related Topics:
Irish Famine - Pete St. John - Ballad - Nelson's Pillar - Dublin - Athenry - Gaol

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The song, which was first recorded by Irish ballad singer Paddy Reilly, recounts the tale of a mythical Irishman in prison, reporting the story he could hear through the prison walls of another prisoner who is being deported to Botany Bay for stealing food to feed his starving family.

Related Topics:
Irish - Paddy Reilly - Botany Bay

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The song has been recorded by many artists, but Paddy Reilly's original version, with Reilly's distinctive baritone vocalisation, and orchestral arrangement, is generally seen as the definitive version.

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The song is also associated with London Irish rugby club and the football club Celtic F.C. (of Glasgow, Scotland) which has a strong association with Ireland. It is often chanted by supporters at matches.

Related Topics:
London Irish - Football - Celtic F.C. - Glasgow - Scotland

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A reggae version of the song was also recorded by the Century Steel Band in the early 1990s. The Boston punk rock band Dropkick Murphys also recorded a punk-rock version of this song on their 2003 album Blackout. Second-generation Irish Londoners, Neck, also recorded a "pyscho-ceilidh" version of the song. A punk version of the song was also recorded by the band 'No Use For A Name.'

Related Topics:
Reggae - Boston - Punk rock - Dropkick Murphys - 2003 - Blackout - London - Ceilidh

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