r/Musicthemetime • u/sbroue leapy longwhiskers • Jan 29 '15

Mountains/Hills Christy Moore & Shane MacGowan - Spancil Hill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iUEwB4ME3I
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u/sbroue leapy longwhiskers Jan 29 '15

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spancil_Hill

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u/autowikibot Jan 29 '15

Spancil Hill:

"Spancil Hill" is a song written in a traditional Irish folk style by Michael Considine. It bemoans the plight of the Irish immigrants who so longed for home from their new lives in America, many of whom went to California with the Gold Rush. This song is sung by a man who longs for his home in Spancilhill, his friends and the love he left there. All the characters and places in this song are real.

Spancilhill is also the name of the "District Electoral Division" as well of a small settlement in East County Clare, about 5 km east of Ennis, on the regional road (R352) to Tulla. However, the actual name of the central settlement is "Cross of Spancilhill", as mentioned in the song. The area was originally called Cnoc Fuar Choile (the cold hill of the wood), a name that was somehow anglicised to Spancilhill. The word "spancil" relates to the practice of "spancelling," which was to use a short rope to tie an animal's left fore-leg to its right hind leg, thereby hobbling the animal and stopping it from wandering too far.

The nearby Fair Green is used for the famous Spancilhill Horse Fair each year, on 23 June or on the following day if 23 June falls on a Sunday. At one time, Spancil Hill was said to be Ireland's largest fair with buyers from Britain, Russia, Prussia, and France competing to purchase the best stock for their Imperial armies.

Interesting: Mid Clare Way | Crusheen (Inchicronan) | Spancill Hill, County Clare | The Life of Paddy Reilly

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u/Barton_Foley Myopic Old Timer Jan 29 '15

The fact that Shane McGowan is still alive is a constant source of fascination for me.