Saturday, March 7, 2015

Rose of Tralee




The Irish folk ballad "The Rose of Tralee" was likely written by poet C. Mordaunt Spencer and London musician Charles William Glover in 1846, but the Tralee town council endorses that it was composed by one William P. Mulchinock, a young Protestant man who fell madly in love with his parents' Catholic maid, Mary O'Connor. The less-likely second story is far more charming.

The pale moon was rising above the green mountain,  
2014 Rose of Tralee,Philadelphia's Maria Wlash
2014 Rose of Tralee, Philadelphia's Maria Walsh

The sun was declining beneath the blue sea;
When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain,
That stands in the beautiful vale of Tralee.
     She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
     Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;
     Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,
     That made me love Mary, the rose of Tralee.

The cool shades of evening, their mantle were spreading
And Mary all smiling sat listening to me;
The moon through the valley, her pale rays were shining
When I won the heart of the rose of Tralee.
     She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
     Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;
     Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,
     That made me love Mary, the rose of Tralee.

((The following inferior verse is not in many versions:))

On the far fields of India, mid war's bloody thunder,
Her voice was a solace and comfort to me,
But the cold hand of death has now torn us asunder.
I'm lonely tonight for my rose of Tralee..
     She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
     Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;
     Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,
     That made me love Mary, the rose of Tralee.


The inspired-by-the-song "Rose of Tralee" International Festival seeks the world to crown a young Irish (or descendant) lady "lovely and fair as the rose in the summer."  Surrounded by global celebration of Irish culture, the  Festival takes place mid-August in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland with street entertainment, carnival, live concerts, theater, circus, markets, funfair, fireworks and an internationally renowned Rose Parade. 


We Portlanders are reminded of another Rose Festival.
http://www.rosefestival.org/programs/rose-festival-court








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