Eleanor Plunkett by Carolan. Old Irish harp version played by Simon Chadwick
Channel: Simon Chadwick
Date: 28/06/2021

This is an old Irish harp version of the well-known Carolan tune "Eleanor Plunkett". The tune is also known by Eleanor's married name, "Mrs. Keil", or by the first line of the song, "A Nelly an chúil chraobhaigh".


I think this tune and song was composed by Carolan in the 1720s, for the two sisters Eleanor Keel and Mary Donnellan, who were involved in a high-powered legal battle to try and regain their Plunkett ancestral lands near Nobber in county Meath.



My version of the tune of Eleanor Plunkett is based on Edward Bunting's live transcription from the playing of old Irish harper Denis O'Hampsey in the 1790s. It includes the "forgotten" 2nd half which is hardy ever played nowadays.


The harp I'm playing here was made for me by Pedro Ferreira http://rumor.pt. It is copied from an 18th century harp now owned by the National Museum of Ireland, in Dublin. According to tradition, the harp owned by the Museum originally belonged to Turlough Carolan who composed this tune.


You can read my research about Eleanor Plunkett and the different versions of the tune on my blog at http://simonchadwick.net/2020/12/eleanor-plunkett.html


Thank you for listening.