Herosongs: Where History Meets Song Episode four promo

Episode 4 - 1913-1916 Herosongs

Episode four of Herosongs will be aired this Sunday 4th August at 7pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

It is a century since these events occurred and our three sung heroes in this episode Jim Larkin, James Connolly and Roger Casement are at the heart of contemporary history and politics. But what of the songs they inspired both at this time and since? In this episode of Herosongs presenter Therese McIntyre, explores the lives and legacies of these three men and the songs written about them. We hear from UCD professor Diarmaid Ferriter, author of ‘Lockout 1913’ Padraig Yeates, tour guide and author of ‘James Connolly: Sixteen Lives’ Lorcan Collins and James Connolly’s great grandson James Connolly Heron. Fergus Russell, of the Góilín traditional singers club gives his opinion on why he likes one particular song about Connolly written by Paddy Galvin; “So I sing the song and it would be one of the songs that I most enjoy singing, and am inspired most when I sing it because, Connolly is my hero” and singer Frances Black shares the Black family’s version of the song. We also hear from labour historian and traditional singer Francis Devine about the song ‘The Ballad of Jim Larkin’ while the singer and member of the Young Wolfe Tones, Derek Warfield tells us the story of how he added an extra verse to the song about Roger Casement ‘The Lonely Banna Strand’ in 1965.