Annotation:Pearl of the Irish Nation (2)

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PEARL OF THE IRISH NATION [2]. Irish, Air and Song Tune (6/8 time). D Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. "There is a song to this air written by Patrick O'Kelly, a wandering peasant poet of the beginning of the last (i.e. 18th) century, who discloses his name in the last verse: a custom found in other songs" (Joyce). The song from Joyce's source begins:

Though many there be that daily I see,
Of virtuous beautiful creatures,
With red rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
And likewise comely features:
Yet there is none abroad or at home,
In country or town or plantation,
That can be compared to this maiden fair—
The Pearl of th’ Irish Nation.

However, song is quite old and there are different versions and branches. Donal O'Sullivan, who edited the Bunting collection, found "Pearl of the Irish Nation" as an alternative title for "Charming Fair Eily (The)", an air printed by Belfast collection Edward Bunting (1773-1846) in his own 1809 publication. O'Sullivan noted that Bunting employed the tune as a setting for one of Thomas Campbell's imitations of old ballads, "Lord Ullin's Daughter" (sans the usual title).

The air was known in Scotland as early as 1751, and survived in tradition into the 20th century in variants from the island of Uist in Western Scotland. Similarly, Scots variants survived in Cape Breton, where a version of the tune was employed by Judique bard Alexander MacLean for his song "Oran do Theàrlach Caimbeul."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 45, p. 25.

Recorded sources:

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