The Exiled was written recently and it concerns that dark period of the Northern Ireland troubles, internment. The British government in an attempt to crush the IRA locked up without trial thousands of men and boys. Many people left during these times to escape the on-going street violence and the flawed policy of internment opened the floodgates to IRA recruitment in Belfast and Derry. The new Northern Ireland peace process has brought many aged exiles back home.
More Music From Padraig Lalor
I have a passion for old radios so have made link buttons to my songs out of images of Art Deco radios just click on the radio to listen to the song. The historical and political context is written beside the icons and there are links for further info on the subject matter. I am currently doing my first solo album so these tracks are mostly first takes they are not the finished piece. Feel free to comment on them by clicking here COMMENT
Please keep checking back as this page is up-dated regularly. Click on the music stave below each radio to follow whilst listening. Remember the music on this site is free to down load
Two Pennies is a song about Thomas Millar a man who worked and sailed on the Titanic. Belfast lost many in the tragedy that happened on the 14th of April 1912. This song is based on the true story of a widower with two sons trying to escape the sectarianism and poverty of Belfast Northern Ireland. This version played on BBC radio Wales features Lowri Evans (See Links Page) and is played with kind permission of BBC/Wales.
During the Irish Famine in the 1800s a merchant ship called the Jeanie Johnston Carried famine victims to Canada. I wrote this song when I read a story about a boy born on the eve of the first sailing.
The Belfast Linen Industry was a huge employer at the turn of the 1900s in Belfast Northern Ireland. Conditions were grim for the women and children who worked there. Many died from disease and the inhuman working conditions. James Connolly had called for strikes whilst leader of the Trade Unions in Belfast. The song 1911 walkout is about one such strike.
The Flooding of Tryweryn Valley Wales in 1965 was an act of inhumanity against a small Welsh speaking community. I saw the BBC footage of the event and the song Cofia Dryweryn (Remember Tryweryn) For mor info on this event go to the BBC site The Flooding of Tryweryn Valley Wales in 1965 was an act of inhumanity against a small Welsh speaking community. I saw the BBC footage of the event and the song Cofia Dryweryn (Remember Tryweryn) For mor info on this event go to the BBC site The Flooding of Tryweryn Valley Wales in 1965 was an act of inhumanity against a small Welsh speaking community. I saw the BBC footage of the event and the song Cofia Dryweryn (Remember Tryweryn) For mor info on this event go to the BBC site The Flooding of Tryweryn Valley in Wales was a catalyst for the Free Wales Army. The inhumanity shown to the Tiny Welsh village of Capel Celyn is documented on the BBC archive. I wrote the song Cofia Dryweryn after seeing footage of the village being drowned. A gross act of inhumanity that should never be forgotten.
