Edward McDonagh from Tuam shares some of the oldest traveller songs in these recordings by the SCC, including ‘The Scaffold’ and ‘The Outlandish Knight’. Edward, with his wife Ellie of 53 years, is the seventh generation of his family to live in their home. Together they have brought up a large family, of 11 sons and 1 daughter, today they are grandparents to 88 and great-grandparents to 39. When growing up himself, Edward recalls, learning songs from the elders in his family, including his aunts, uncles and cousins. For Edward, his father was his main teacher. Edward’s father, Tom McDonagh was named as the ‘Lovely Boy’ known to always raise a song with his great voice. For Edward, keeping songs in the family is very important. He expresses the importance of preserving these old songs, and the old way of singing. For him, it is about keeping them simple, and maintaining their sound. Edward has a great love for the old songs and wants to make sure the old way of singing carries on.
