Annotation:Queen of Connemara (The)
X:1 T:Queen of Connemara, The M:3/4 L:1/8 R:Air and Waltz Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G D2|G4D2|G4B2|d6-|d2e2f2|g4 g2|e4 d2|d6-|d4G2| G4D2|G4A2|B4G2|B4d2|e6|d4 B2|A6|d2^c2=c2| B4c2|d4B2|e2d4-|d2c2B2|c4 d2|e4 f2|g2 G4-|G2g2f2| e4 e2|d4 B2|A4 G2|E4 D2|E4G2|G4A|G6-|G2B2c2| d6-|d2B2c2|d6|d2c2B2|c4d2|e4 f2|g6-|g4g2| f3g a2|d2e2f2|g4 B2|c2d2e2|B4G2|A4F2|G6-|G4||
QUEEN OF CONNEMARA, THE. Irish, Air and Waltz (3/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. The song "Queen of Connemara" was written by Francis Fahy (1854-1935) and was popularized by Delia Murphy in 1961; she was known as ‘The Queen of Connemara’. Jim Carroll[1] remarks:
The song refers to a Galway hooker, one of the magnificent sail-driven cargo boats which once carried small cargoes around the coast of Galway; nowadays they can been seen in all their glory in the annual hooker race which is takes place in August, setting out from Kinvara. Before gas and electricity came to Kinvara, turf was the main fuel used for cooking and heating. The Galway hookers sailed from Connemara laden with this fuel as the local area has no bogs. Kinvara in turn filled the hookers with grain and produce for their return journey. A strong trade developed between the two regions using these great old cargo boats.
The words begin:
Oh! My boat can safely float in the teeth of wind and weather,
And outrace the fastest hooker between Galway and Kinsale;
When the black floor of the ocean and the white foam rush together,
High she rides, in her pride, like a sea-gull through the gale.
Chorus:
Oh she's neat! Oh she's sweet! She's a beauty in ev'ry line!;
The Queen of Connemara is that bounding barque of mine;
