“Eileen”

Description

"In a town by the sea by the Castle Duneen" Eileen loves "a young fisher laddie" lost in a storm the day before they were to be wed. She dies of a broken heart and is buried by the shore where they used to meet. Now his ghost is heard calling her there.

Notes

Blondahl03 has no liner notes confirming that this song was collected in Newfoundland. Barring another report for Newfoundland I do not assume it has been found there. There is no entry for "Eileen" in _Newfoundland Songs and Ballads in Print 1842-1974 A Title and First-Line Index_ by Paul Mercer. - BS

The legend doesn't seem to be known in Britain either; at least, I can't find a relevant reference in Peter Underwood's _Gazeteer of British, Scottish & Irish Ghosts_. An argument from silence, I concede. - RBW

Recordings

• Omar Blondahl, "Eileen" (on NFOBlondahl03)