"Down by the Glenside" (The Bold Fenian Men) is an
Irish rebel song written by Peadar Kearney, an Irish
Republican and composer of numerous rebel songs,
including "The Soldier's Song" ("Amhrán na bhFiann"),
now the Irish National Anthem, and "The Tri-coloured
Ribbon".
Kearney was a member of the Irish Republican
Brotherhood, popularly known as the Fenians. He wrote
the song at about the time of the 1916 Rising,
referring back to the earlier Fenian Rising of 1867. It
evokes the memory o...(+)
"Down by the Glenside" (The Bold Fenian Men) is an
Irish rebel song written by Peadar Kearney, an Irish
Republican and composer of numerous rebel songs,
including "The Soldier's Song" ("Amhrán na bhFiann"),
now the Irish National Anthem, and "The Tri-coloured
Ribbon".
Kearney was a member of the Irish Republican
Brotherhood, popularly known as the Fenians. He wrote
the song at about the time of the 1916 Rising,
referring back to the earlier Fenian Rising of 1867. It
evokes the memory of the freedom-fighters of the
previous generation (strong, manly forms...eyes with
hope gleaming), as recalled by an old woman down by the
glenside. It is effectively a call to arms for a
generation of Irishmen accustomed to political
nationalism.
Three verses to this song were sung by Ken Curtis and
The Sons of the Pioneers in the 1950 John Ford movie
Rio Grande, though the film was set in the 19th Century
Wild West.
Richard Dyer-Bennet recorded the song on his first self
produced LP Richard Dyer-Bennet 1, (1955). The song
became popular again in the 1960s, when it was recorded
by The Clancy Brothers. It has since been recorded by
numerous artists, including The Dubliners, Cherish The
Ladies, Omnia, Screaming Orphans, Jim McCann, Harry
O'Donoghue, and The Wolfe Tones.
The song is also sung in the first episode of the BBC
series Days of Hope, written by Jim Allen and directed
by Ken Loach. An Irish barmaid is forced to sing after
being sexually harassed by British soldiers and
impresses them with her song.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_by_the_Glenside_(Th
e_Bold_Fenian_Men)).
Although originally written for Traditional Irish
instruments, I created this Interpretation of the
"Down by the Glenside" for Flute, Oboe & Celtic or
Concert (Pedal) Harp.