CHERISH THE LADIES - THE PORTUMNA WORKHOUSE / THE HURLING BOYS OF PORTUMNA

THE PORTUMNA WORKHOUSE / THE HURLING BOYS OF PORTUMNA
FROM CHERISH THE LADIES ALBUM, "HEART OF THE HOME"
Joanie Madden composed these two tunes about her Father Joe Madden’s hometown of Portumna in East Galway. The Portumna Workhouse is a structure built in 1852 by the English to house the starving destitute poor during the Great Famine and it was described as “the most feared and hated institution ever established in Ireland”. After visiting the centre following the redevelopment and witnessing the atrocious conditions in which the oppressed people were forced to endure, Joanie composed this march thinking of happier times for those unfortunate people who were able to escape its walls.
The second tune in the medley was inspired by the 4000 year old Gaelic sport of hurling, an incredible intricate high energy game which is the fastest sport on grass. All of the men in Joanie's father's family were accomplished hurlers and for over a century Portumna has been renown for the amazing hurlers it has produced.
Joanie's great-uncle Mick Kenny from Duniry was a legendary hurler who captained the Galway All-Ireland Champion Hurling team in 1923 and was also very active in the Portumna GAA. She composed the Hurling Boys of Portumna reel for all those mighty men who have brought tremendous glory to the town through sport.
CHERISH THE LADIES
Joanie Madden - Whistle
Mary Coogan - Guitar
Mirella Murray - Accordion
Kathleen Boyle - Piano
Nollaig Casey - Fiddle
Special guest musicians: Donnchadh Gough (Bodhrán) and Trevor Hutchinson (Bass)
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VIDEO PRODUCTION: Kieran Concannon, C-Board Films
Filmed on location at the Portumna The Irish Workhouse Centre
Portumna, County Galway, Ireland
www.irishworkh...
Hurling scenes filmed at Marian Park, Portumna, Co Galway, Ireland and Croke Park, County Dublin, Ireland
SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO AIDED IN THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO:
The Portumna Hurling Club, The GAA, TG4, RTÉ, The Portumna Workhouse
Kieran Concannon, Proinsias Ní Ghráinne, The Kelly and Smith Family.
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