Margaret Barry

Programme 2
In this programme, Fil is joined by guest musician Finbar Furey, to perform Martha the Flower of Sweet Strabane, and celebrate the life of MAGGIE BARRY.

With archive footage, live performances with Maggie herself, and interviews with family members and folklorists David Hammond, Mick Moloney and Tommy Sands and many more.

Margaret Barry (1917-1989) was a colourful, larger than life character who is fondly remembered by anyone who ever heard her unique style of street singing.

Born in Cork, Margaret's family were travellers who had settled in the city. Self taught on the banjo, she played the length and breadth of Ireland from a very young age. She was discovered and recorded by song collector Peter Kennedy in 1951 singing in Dundalk Market and was eventually brought to England by the American song collector Alan Lomax. Maggie teamed up with Sligo fiddle player Michael Gorman with whom she made several recordings. IN later life she returned to live in Ireland where she continued to busk and perform in concerts. Her many recordings have left a wonderful legacy of both well known come-all-yes and traditional songs.