I've just been listening to 'The Fields of Athenry' a beautiful, haunting song, could anyone tell me where Athenry is in Ireland, and is it famous for anything else other than the song.
2007-10-13 04:09:11 · 12 answers · asked by marye 3 in Travel ➔ Ireland ➔ Other - Ireland
Hello Asker,
Yes I know about Athenry, it lies approx 20 ,iles East of Galway city and is famouse for being a own from the middle ages, and in more modern times was made famous by a singer called Paddy Reilley, as after he met a song-writer in a Boston Pub, actually recorded the song, it is called 'The fields of Athenry' and for that there now is a museum in Athenry Town dedicated to the features of the song...
Ash Trays, Cups, teapots, tee-shirts, tea towels, and as well as the fort and the old Arched tower leading East out of the Town there lies a brief history of the place, in my past I have lived there albeit briefly, Worshipped there, albe that not very well. and even washed my feet in the stream that flows through the place..
For me though, meself, I doubt I will ever go there again, as I see no real need, and to say that I have been there done that, this is a very true fact of my life, have I had any fun there. YES, but most of it in my younger years..There are many roads leading to Athenry, and the signs by the road-sied will never fail in telling you, that you have arrived. It's a bit like when you arrive in Tipperary, and the signs say, 'Welcome to Tipperary, You have come A Long Way'
As does Galway, for its Tribes.. If you go to Athenry, be assured of a great welcome, and please stay a little longer, and find out for yeself more about such a nice town.
Slainte' Tony M
2007-10-13 07:12:18 · answer #1 · answered by tony m 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I live in Athenry, I moved here from Dublin when I was younger, I'm not to mad on the song though. Athenry is about twenty minutes from Galway on the train and a little over half an hour by car and is to the north-east of Galway. And no were not famous for anything else. If your looking to visit take the train from Dublin it passes straight through on the way to Galway, were the second last stop.
2007-10-15 14:16:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All wrong.
I live in athenry in county galway.
Paddy reily sang the song but it was wrote by a man called pete st john (paddy has never claimed credit for the song and often refers to pete saint john before he sings, I have an old live version of the song where paddy says "the next song was wrote by a good friend of mine named pete saint john". He sang the song first in the 60`s / 70`s. It is not that old.
He did say that the only reason he chose Athenry is because it was the only town that rhymed with "low lie". (athy in kildare could have had the same fate but athenry sounded better)
The main story could be any town in Ireland during the famine times, when people who stole food, because they were hungry, were sent to Van diemens land (oz) to work hard labour.
Pete saint john has visited the town many times.
It is a medieval town with the best preserved medieval walls in ireland, There is also an arch that legend has it will colapse when the most handsome man in ireland walks under it. this arch was repaired in the 1970`s.
An interesing fact for all republicans, one of athenrys most famous sons was edward carson, a staunch ulster unionist whos statue is outside the stornmont parliment buildings in northern ireland.
The fact of the matter is that athenry has more of a historical relevance for ulster unionists than Nationalists, the only tie for them is the fact that the song was adopted by them. No one in Athenry (or pete saint john) likes the association with the IRA when Idiots add it to the courus it ruins the song.
the celtic festival had to be abandoned by the town as the shinners and celtic louts ruined the town.
2007-10-15 00:59:11 · answer #3 · answered by deburca98 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The fields of Athenry relates to the Irish Famine
""The Fields of Athenry" is a folk song about the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1849. It tells the story of the famine through first-person narrative.
The song, which was first recorded by Irish ballad singer Danny Doyle, recounts the tale of a prisoner who has been sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay, Australia, for stealing food to feed his starving family.
Athenry is near Galway
2007-10-13 04:34:58 · answer #4 · answered by strawman 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Athenry is close to Galway in the west of Ireland!
2007-10-13 12:12:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Athenry is in County Galway, and what else can I say? Not mad about the song, for me it's a dreary song for a dreary place, but tastes do differ.
2007-10-14 08:47:16 · answer #6 · answered by Orla C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Athenry is about 20 miles outside of Galway City. It's a lovely town but is quite built up now so it's not as quaint as it once was.
2007-10-13 04:50:00 · answer #7 · answered by sile 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
For a really different take on the song check out the sound track to "Veronica Guerin". A young street singer from Dublin was supposed to have been the vocalist on this take & instruments were added later. Perfect for the movie I think.
2007-10-15 18:23:45 · answer #8 · answered by Dave 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm Irish.
Paddy Reilly sings the definitive version of that song, but for a different take on it, try and get your hand on a version by Brush Shields, an aging Irish rocker...it's a reggae version!
I know this is not answering your question, but this song drives me nuts, I have heard it murdered so often!
2007-10-13 07:23:48 · answer #9 · answered by marie m 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
its a medieval town in county galway. dont know ifs its famous for anything else cos im from county kildare
2007-10-13 04:14:44 · answer #10 · answered by Phoenix 2 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋