It’s a long way to Tipperary - especially the Tipperary of 100 years ago.
The town of Tipperary will celebrate the centennial of the writing of “It’s A Long Way to Tipperary” with a week-long festival beginning this Thursday.
“It’s A Long Way to Tipperary” was penned by Jack Judge, an English-born man with Tipperary and Mayo roots, and gained overwhelming popularity with troops stationed overseas during the First World War.
Tipperary has “come a long way since then,” Ted O’Connor, general manager of Tipperary Co-op, the festival sponsor, said in a press release. “Just like the song is known far and wide, Tipperary Co-op is now one of the largest Irish cheese exporters - supporting the local community and the local and Irish economy.”
The festival will explore Ireland as it was a century ago with events such as milk churn races, a free street concert, and a food fair, to take place July 13.
The festival opens Thursday with the presentation of the Tipperary International Peace Award to former President of Ireland Professor Mary McAleese and Senator Martin McAleese. The weekend sees the grand finale of the Tipperary International Song of Peace Contest, with ten finalists performing their own original songs.
First World War artifacts and photographs spanning the past century will be on display for the duration of the festival.
July 14’s Tipperary Tea Party, held in the streets of the town, will bring vintage transport and locals dressed in vintage-style clothing.
“Visitors will be transported back to an Ireland of 100 years ago,” Tipperary Chamber President and festival organizer Elaine Fitzpatrick said in a press release.
Listen to the original release of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” by Victor Records, sung by John McCormack, here:
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.lastshovel | Jul 05, 2012, 09:50 AM EDT
Well, I dinna pretend ta ken mooch o'the troubles o'th'dim an storied past. Nay, does wha I ken of the bordellas o'London Towne make me youth ta last. But I feel inna me heart th'lightsome words of a song of wit an glee. As I go to me sprite of a girl o'mine, albeit on bended knee. That's original, by'th'by. And ya'll heard it firstest. On the other hand, I've got four fingers and a thumb. The funniest use I almost ever saw of this song was in the movie "Das Boot" where the Kaptain needles his First-Officer (an uptight Sea-Kraut if I ever seen one) by having it played on the boat's gramma-phone. German humor, being how it is, the whole crew were singing along. I was rolling in the aisle over that one. P.S. FABMAN, many Thanks for the lyrics
MATEOMIGUEL | Jul 05, 2012, 01:37 AM EDT
...meow...(...what a nice song! This is the type of song that helps demonstrate how "gentlemen" respected women's decisions to fall in love and marry - during difficult times of unemployment. What an incredible picture and it appears it was taken during the 1920's - times have changed, but the gentleman of the song respected a woman's right to decide and life...=)
FABMAN | Jul 04, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT
Here's the lyrics, judge for yourself Up to mighty London Came an Irishman one day. As the streets are paved with gold Sure, everyone was gay, Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand and Leicester Square, Till Paddy got excited, Then he shouted to them there: It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go. It's a long way to Tipperary To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square! It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there. (repeat) Paddy wrote a letter To his Irish Molly-O, Saying, "Should you not receive it, Write and let me know!" "If I make mistakes in spelling, Molly, dear," said he, "Remember, it's the pen that's bad, Don't lay the blame on me! It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go. It's a long way to Tipperary To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square! It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there. Molly wrote a neat reply To Irish Paddy-O, Saying Mike Maloney Wants to marry me, and so Leave the Strand and Piccadilly Or you'll be to blame, For love has fairly drove me silly: Hoping you're the same! It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go. It's a long way to Tipperary To the sweetest girl I know! Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square! It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there.
FABMAN | Jul 04, 2012, 11:45 AM EDT
The Tipperary people from 90 years or so ago wouldn't be too happy if they came back and saw the people of Tipperary Town celebrate this song. To them this song is closely associated with the Black n Tans, Auxilleries and British forces who terrorised the county. The song was shunned by Gaels from that period. On top of that the lyrics themselves are racist and make fun of Irish people. This song is certainly not worth celebrating
hermitTalker | Jul 04, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT
I read the explanations. Three of us were singing it to a radio station driving through a California station and a WW1 veteran next to our car was excited, he remembered it. John Paul 11 quoted the first line in answer to a question he was asked in Miami the first time he came to the USA. I recalled the man's name when I met him decades later and he said the Pope thanked him for being gentle with him. I used live in Tipperary so the anniversary is meaningful to me. I hope they have a fun event there in Tipp.
WoundedKnee | Jul 04, 2012, 09:01 AM EDT
Good post, Seanmor, though I would take issue with your claim that 180.000 Irishmen served in the British Forces in WW1. I'd put the figure at less than half that. In any case, Irish people shouldn't be celebrating this silly piece of jingoism, though I recognize that Tipperary country always had a strong tradition of sending its young men to join the British Army and attack people all over the world. Of course, they're making fools of themselves again, because the Tipperary of the song has nothing to with Ireland. It was the name of a whorehouse in the Soho district of London. Anyone who thinks the song is about Ireland should ask themselves how come the only "Irish" place mentioned is Tipperary, the next lines are about streets in London, Picaddilly and Leicester Square.
Seanmor | Jul 04, 2012, 08:29 AM EDT
The above article states: "The festival will explore Ireland as it was a century ago...". The Ireland of a 100 years ago was a single political entity as it had been for over 7 centuries of rule by monarchs and governments in London. As we recall famous song, "It's a Long Way to Tipperary"-and the 180,000 Irishmen who fought for G.B. in the Great War - we should also remember the other Tipperary song, "Tipperary so Far Away", which tells of how Seán Tracy's lost his life heoricly fighting for Irish independence.