Caoineadh Uí Néill & Jig

Deirdre Granville of Deluce's Patent plays harp, live at the Pavilion, Cork City, Ireland, 19th July 2012. Deirdre plays a slow air, "Caoineadh Uí Néill", followed by a jig. "Caoineadh Uí Néill" is a lament which mourns the loss of a great Ulster Chieftain, who along with others left Ireland in 1607, never to return. This event in Irish history is known as 'The Flight of the Earls'. It signified the collapse of the old Gaelic order, and had a devastating effect on the harpists and bards who had enjoyed the patronage of these chieftains for many centuries before.