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Mursheen Durkin
The Irish folk song "Muirsheen Durkin" tells the story of an emigrant from Ireland who goes to mine for gold in California during the California Gold Rush, 1849.[1] The song is about emigration, although atypically optimistic for the genre. The name "Muirsheen" is a good phonetic approximation to the pronunciation of "Máirtín" (Martin) in Connacht Irish; it could alternatively be construed as a diminutive of "Muiris" (Maurice). A pratie is a potato, the historical staple crop of Ireland. "America" is pronounced "Americay", as was common among Gaelic peoples around Ireland.[2]
The air to which it is sung is "Cailíní deasa Mhuigheo" (pretty girls of Mayo), which is a popular reel dating from the 19th century.[3]
- ^ Sean McMahon, A Little Bit of Heaven
- ^ Jonathan Baron, "A Narrow Sea – Episode 59 – The Hamely Tongue", BBC.co.uk
- ^ Colm Ó Lochlainn, More Irish Street Ballads, Dublin, 1965. p. 72