Mareena's 'Pick of the Week'

27. Helicopter Song by The Wolfe Tones - 25th Anniversary (1991)

Mountjoy Prison, as it is known today, was opened in 1850 
as Mountjoy Gaol - nicknamed 'The Joy'

Why did I choose this song? The Helicopter Song is a number one single by the extremely popular Irish band The Wolfe Tones. The song tells the story of the brazen daylight escape of three Irish Republican Army prisoners from Dublin's Mountjoy Jail. On October 31, 1973, an IRA member hijacked a helicopter and forced the pilot to fly to Mountjoy where the three prisoners - J. B. O'Hagan, Seamus Twomey and Kevin Mallon - were lifted by helicopter from the exercise yard of the D wing of the jail at 3:40 pm. The incident was a major embarrassment for the Irish government.

Despite The Helicopter Song being immediately banned by the government, the song topped the Irish popular music charts, peaking on November 22, 1973 and staying at Number One for four weeks. 

A manhunt involving twenty thousand members of the Irish Defence Forces and the police force of Ireland, the Garda Síochána, was launched for the escapees. Kevin Mallon was recaptured at a dance in a hotel on 10 December 1973; and imprisoned in Portlaoise Prison - which he also escaped from during a mass breakout of nineteen prisoners on 18 August 1974. He was recaptured in Dublin in January 1975 and returned to Portlaoise Prison.

J. B. O'Hagan was recaptured in Dublin in early 1975, and also imprisoned in Portlaoise Prison. After he served out his original twelve-month sentence, he was immediately rearrested and sentenced to a further two years for escaping. Seamus Twomey evaded recapture until 2 December 1977, when he was spotted sitting in a car in Sandycove by members of the Garda's Special Branch who were investigating an arms shipment after a tip from the Belgian police. He drove away after spotting the officers, before being recaptured in the center of Dublin after a high-speed car chase. He was also imprisoned in Portlaoise Prison until his release in 1982.  

CD Received

The Pipes (and Drums) Are Calling by Scotia-Glenville Pipe Band (2009)
Genre: Celtic Folk
When did we receive it? 7 November 2012

First of all, we would like to thank our good friend and a faithful listener to "Proud to be Irish" - Glenn - for sending us this CD. The Scotia-Glenville High School is in Scotia, New York. All the members of the pipe band are between the ages of eight and eighteen years old. The Scotia-Glenville Pipe Band were crowned World Champions of the Novice Juvenile Division at the World Pipe Band Championships held in Glasgow, Scotland in August of 2012

Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement, kids! We are so proud of you! :) Please keep an eye on our newly reinstated playlists as we may be playing some cuts off this CD on future programs.

Playlist For 4 November 2012

1. Jig Set by Barleyjuice - The Morning After (2008)
2. My Homeland by Isla Grant - Mother (2001)
3. Juice of the Barley by Barleyjuice - The Morning After (2008)
4. Ballad of St. Anne's Reel by Sheila Noonan - Radio Sweethearts (1999)
5. My Heart's Tonight in Ireland by Various Artists - Common Ground: Voices of Modern Irish Music (1996)
6. Southern Cross by Joe Giltrap - The Soldier's Tree (1999)
7. What's the Rumpus? by Gaelic Storm - What's the Rumpus? (2008)
8. Come to the Bower by Seamus Kennedy - On the Rocks (2004)
9. Brennan on the Moor by Brakin' Tradition - Presence in the Past (1995)
10. Day of the Clipper by The Intermountain Trio - Live at Sky Heart (2010)
11. Foggy Dew by The Canny Brothers Band - One Drop of Whiskey (2010)
12. Mother's Chair by Isla Grant - Mother (2001)
13. Oh, Danny Boy by Erin's Pride - May the Road Rise to Meet You (1996)
14. A Nation Once Again by The Highland Rovers Band - Brave Lads All (2007)
15. Green and Red of Mayo by The Saw Doctors - All the Way From Tuam (1993)
16. Coultergeist by Phil Coulter - Highland Cathedral (2000)
17. Katy Daly by Eamonn McGirr - Different Yet the Same (1996)
18. May the Light of Love by The Intermountain Trio - Live at Sky Heart (2010)
19. Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues (1988)
20. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy by The Waterboys - Room to Roam (1990)
21. Home From the Sea by Phil Coulter - Words and Music (1981)
22. The Lighthouse by Tara Shamrock - One For the Road (1997)
23. One Day at a Time by Various Artists - Emerald Classics (1988)
24. The Rose of Mooncoin by The Wolfe Tones - Belt of the Celts (1993)
25. Bacach Bui by Dermot O'Brien - Let's Have a Party! (1985)
26. Anywhere Is by Enya - The Memory of Trees (1995)
27. Helicopter Song by The Wolfe Tones - 25th Anniversary (1991)
28. Lady of Knock by Deirdre Reilly - A Toast to the Irish Colleens (1999)
29. Songs of Home by Barleycorn - My Last Farewell (2002)
30. Phil the Fluter's Ball by The Celtic Tenors - Irish Album (2003)
31. Rambles of Spring by Cahir O'Doherty - 19 Great Irish Songs (1994)
32. Bundlin' by Dominic Kirwan - Echoes of Ireland (2003)
33. Mary's Eyes by Gaelic Storm - Tree (2001)
34. Mr. Moses Ri-Tooral-I-Ay by The Clancy Brothers - The Best of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem (2001)
35. Bantry Bay by Phil Coulter - Forgotten Dreams (1989)
36. The John McLean March by North Sea Gas - Glencoe Massacre (2008)
37. Celtic Heartbeat by The New Barleycorn - Ireland's Celtic Heartbeat (1997)

Playlist For 28 October 2012

1. Fiddle Medley: Lime Hill/Keep the Country Bonnie Lassie/Jack Daniel's Reel/Little Donald in the Pig Pen by The Rankin Family - The Rankin Family (1989)
2. Shoals of Herring by Schooner Fare - Day of the Clipper (1978)
3. The Soldier's Tree by Joe Giltrap - The Soldier's Tree (1999)
4. Star of the County Down by The High Kings - Memory Lane (2010)
5. Westering Home by The Celtic Tenors - Feels Like Home (2011)
6. Coultergeist by Phil Coulter - Highland Cathedral (2000)
7. Ireland by Garth Brooks - Fresh Horses (1995)
8. Hey Sandy by Triskele - Look Back...Don't Stare (2010)
9. The Ferryman by Guaranteed Irish - Out in Front (1991)
10. Slan Abhaile by Cathie Ryan - Cathie Ryan (1997)
11. May the Light of Love by The Intermountain Trio - Live at Sky Heart (2010)
12. The Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Whole Shabang - Dreamers and Believers (1995)
13. The West's Awake by The Wolfe Tones - 25th Anniversary (1991)
14. Cashel Wind by Joe Giltrap - The Soldier's Tree (1999)
15. Day of the Clipper by The Intermountain Trio - Live at Sky Heart (2010)
16. Lady of Knock by Deirdre Reilly - A Toast to the Irish Colleens (1999)
17. Hills of Tipperary by Eamonn Ryan - Where the New World Meets the Old (2001)
18. Those Were the Days by Celtic Cross - Shores of America (2007)
19. Galway Girl by Dominic Kirwan - Echoes of Ireland (2003)
20. The Sea by Various Artists - Celtic Lives: Tales of Pride (1998)
21. Whistling Gypsy by Eamonn McGirr - Different Yet the Same (1996)
22. Streets of New York by The Wolfe Tones - Spirit of the Nation (1964)
23. Fairytale of New York by Phil Coulter - Recollections (1993)
24. Ireland's 32/Irish Washerwoman by Dermot O'Brien - Let's Have a Party! (1985)
25. The Wild Colonial Boy by Hair of the Dog - Release the Hounds (1997)
26. When Rivers Rise by Spirit of the West - Tripping up the Stairs (1988)
27. Peggy Gordon by Brakin' Tradition - Presence in the Past (1995)
28. Paddy and the Barrel by The New Barleycorn - At Flannery's (1990)
29. Danny Boy by Frank Patterson - God Bless America: An Irish Salute (2000)
30. Sam Hall by The Irish Descendants - We Are the Irish Descendants (2004)
31. Bold Fenian Men by The Go-Lucky Four - Irish Capers (1967)
32. The Highwayman by Liam Clancy - We've Come a Long Way (1989)
33. The Leprechaun by Larry Kirwan - Keltic Kids (1998)
34. Roddy McCorley by Schooner Fare - For the Times (1993)
35. Two Sisters by Aoife Clancy - Soldiers and Dreams (2001)
36. All of the Hard Days Are Gone by The McKrells - Somethin' Fierce (2000)
37. The Devil and the Dirk by Natalie McMaster - Blueprint (2003)

Playlist For 21 October 2012

1. Whistling Low/Errigal by Various Artists - Common Ground: Voices of Modern Irish Music (1996)
2. Medley: Beer Barrel Polka/Havanagila/Irish Molly-O by Dermot O'Brien - Let's Have a Party! (1985)
3. The Punch and Judy Man by Barleycorn - Green and Gold (2002)
4. St. Brendan's Voyage by Guaranteed Irish - Out in Front (1991)
5. Dancer in the Dance by Shirae - Tiger's Island (2004)
6. Leixlip Memories by Joe Giltrap - The Soldier's Tree (1999)
7. Green and Gold by The Elders - Alive and Live in Ireland (2007)
8. Isle of Innisfree by Celtic Woman - Celtic Woman (2005)
9. Wild Mountain Thyme by Kevin Evans - Galway to Graceland (1996)
10. Galway Bay by Andy Cooney - Boston Rose and Other Irish Favorites (1989)
11. Paddy McGinty's Goat by Val Doonican - The Very Best of Val Doonican (1998)
12. Day of the Clipper by Schooner Fare - Day of the Clipper (1978)
13. Natives by The Rankin Family - Endless Seasons (1996)
14. Clare's Dragoons by The Go-Lucky Four - Irish Capers (1967)
15. A Hundred Pipers by Isla St. Clair - When the Pipers Play (1998)
16. Take me Home to Mayo by Andy Cooney - Galway Shawl (2001)
17. Lady of Knock by Deirdre Reilly - A Toast to the Irish Colleens (1999)
18. Poor Paddy on the Railway by Eamonn McGirr - I'm Yer Wee Man (1985)
19. Into the Mystic by Hair of the Dog - Liam Left the Lights on Again (2012)
20. Rolling Home by Tommy Makem - Rolling Home (1989)
21. Danny Boy by Celtic Woman - Celtic Woman (2005)
22. Ireland Swings by Various Artists - Irish Showbands (2008)
23. Modern Pirates by Barleyjuice - A Night at the Pub (2008)
24. Galway Girl by Dominic Kirwan - Echoes of Ireland (2003)
25. Freedom by The Highland Rovers Band - Brave Lads All (2007)
26. All That Might Have Been by Bonnie Logan - All That Might Have Been (2004)
27. After All These Years by Various Artists - Emerald Classics (1988)
28. An Irish Party in Third Class by Various Artists - Back to Titanic (1998)
29. Those Were the Days by Celtic Cross - Shores of America (2007)
30. Wanderin' Life and Times by The Elders - Wanderin' Life and Times (2011)
31. Let it Flow by Hair of the Dog - Let it Flow (2003)
32. Mull of Kintyre by The Celtic Tenors - Irish Album (2003)
33. Medley by Eamonn McGirr and Friends - The Way Back (2001)
34. Michael by Johnny McEvoy - Ireland's Original (1993)
35. Dublin in the Rare Auld Times by Dominic Kirwan - Echoes of Ireland (2003)
36. A Nation Once Again by The Highland Rovers Band - Brave Lads All (2007)
37. Katy Daly by Eamonn McGirr - Different Yet the Same (1996)

Playlist For 14 October 2012

1. Polkas: Out in Front/Britches Full of Stitches/Sean Ryan's by Guaranteed Irish - Out in Front (1991)
2. Jackets Green by Mary O'Dowd - A Portrait of Mary O'Dowd (1991)
3. Farewell to Nova Scotia by Danny Quinn - Gifts From a Bard (2005)
4. Leaving of Liverpool by The High Kings - Memory Lane (2010)
5. 'Til This Day is Done by The Whole Shabang - Cuttin' Loose! (1996)
6. Sing an Irish Song by Barleycorn - My Last Farewell (2002)
7. Malachy by Carl Corcoran - Dancing the Dublin Reel (1995)
8. Boolavogue by The High Kings - Memory Lane (2010)
9. Celtic Symphony by The Wolfe Tones - 25th Anniversary (1991)
10. Delaney's Donkey by Val Doonican - The Very Best of Val Doonican (1998)
11. Whistling Gypsy by Eamonn McGirr - Different Yet the Same (1996)
12. Medley by Eamonn McGirr and Friends - The Way Back (2002)
13. Slan Abhaile by Cathie Ryan - Cathie Ryan (1997)
14. Pretty Little Girl From Omagh by Daniel O'Donnell - The Very Best of Daniel O'Donnell (1991)
15. Song of Liberty by The Wolfe Tones - Profile (1991)
16. The Promise and the Dream by Shay O'Callaghan and Gillian Carroll - The Promise and the Dream (1994)
17. Those Were the Days by Celtic Cross - Shores of America (2007)
18. Please Come Home by The Elders - Wanderin' Life and Times (2011)
19. Quebecois by Schooner Fare - For the Times (1993)
20. The Keeper by Barleycorn - Green and Gold (2002)
21. One Day at a Time by Various Artists - Emerald Classics (1988)
22. Men of Erin by The Elders - Alive and Live in Ireland (2007)
23. The John McLean March by North Sea Gas - Glencoe Massacre (2008)
24. Rose of Allendale by Various Artists - The Essential Irish Folk Collection (2003)
25. Green and Red of Mayo by The Saw Doctors - All the Way From Tuam (1993)
26. Little Girl of Mine by Carl Corcoran - Dancing the Dublin Reel (1995)
27. The Unicorn by The Irish Rovers - 40 Years A-Rovin' (2005)
28. Lady of Knock by Deirdre Reilly - A Toast to the Irish Colleens (1999)
29. Galway City by Danny Quinn - Gifts From a Bard (2005)
30. The Parting Glass by The High Kings - The High Kings (2008)
31. This Love Will Carry by Various Artists - The Essential Irish Folk Collection (2003)
32. Into the Mystic by Hair of the Dog - Liam Left the Lights on Again (2012)
33. Wild Mountain Thyme by Kevin Evans - Galway to Graceland (1996)
34. Bogie's Bonnie Belle by Various Artists - Common Ground: Voices of Modern Irish Music (1996)
35. Many Young Men of Twenty by The Wolfe Tones - 25th Anniversary (1991)
36. My Heart's Tonight in Ireland by Various Artists - Common Ground: Voices of Modern Irish Music (1996) 

Playlist For 7 October 2012

1. The Concert Reel/The High Road to Linton by Stockton's Wing - The Stockton's Wing Collection (1991)
2. The Shamrock and the Rose by The Whole Shabang - Cuttin' Loose! (1996)
3. Sound the Pibroch by Joe Giltrap - Where There's Life (1994)
4. Katy Daly by Eamonn McGirr - Different Yet the Same (1996)
5. Listen to the Children by Isla Grant - Mother (2001)
6. Southern Cross by Joe Giltrap - The Soldier's Tree (1999)
7. Mulligan and Me by Cahir O'Doherty - 19 Great Irish Songs (1994)
8. 85 High in Killarney by Cahal Dunne - Shamrocks and Heather (1997)
9. Kiss me I'm Irish by Gaelic Storm - Bring Yer Wellies (2006)
10. Born to be Bachelor by Gaelic Storm - How Are we Getting Home? (2004)
11. Brian Boru's March/Tripping up the Stairs/The Lilting Fisherman by Boru - Business as Usual (1991)
12. Paddy McGinty's Goat by Val Doonican - The Very Best of Val Doonican (1998)
13. Hills of Tipperary by Eamonn Ryan - Where the New World Meets the Old (2001)
14. Danny Boy by Celtic Woman - Celtic Woman (2005)
15. Mammas Have a Secret by Cahal Dunne - Peace in my Land (1996)
16. Come by the Hills by The Fureys - The Best of the Fureys and Davey Arthur (1991)
17. Lady of Knock by Deirdre Reilly - A Toast to the Irish Colleens (1999)
18. Donegal and Back Again by The Highland Rovers Band - Unusual Days (2007)
19. The Town I Loved so Well by Eamonn McGirr - Different Yet the Same (1996)
20. Men Behind the Wire by Larry Cunningham - Larry Cunningham Live (1970)
21. Gillis Mountain by The Rankin Family - Fare Thee Well Love (1992)
22. Roisin by Barleycorn - My Last Farewell (2002)
23. Ireland's 32/Irish Washerwoman by Dermot O'Brien - Let's Have a Party! (1985)
24. Roddy McCorley by Schooner Fare - For the Times (1993)
25. Clare's Dragoons by The Go-Lucky Four - Irish Capers (1967)
26. Skye Boat Song by Moira Kerr - Celtic Soul (2006)
27. The Bells of Dunblane by Eamonn McGirr and Friends - The Way Back (2002)
28. The Irish Wedding Song by Various Artists - The Wedding Song Collection (1995)
29. Anois Anseo by Triskele - Look Back...Don't Stare (2010)
30. The Ferryman/Strawberry Beds by Tommy Comerford - Tommy Comerford Presents...Organised Rhyme (1999)
31. Mother's Chair by Isla Grant - Mother (2001)
32. James Connolly by The Wolfe Tones - 25th Anniversary (1991)
33. All of the Hard Days Are Gone by The McKrells - Somethin' Fierce (2000)
34. The Galway Girl by Hair of the Dog - Liam Left the Lights on Again (2012)
35. All That Might Have Been by Bonnie Logan - All That Might Have Been (2004)
36. Give me Your Hand by The Wolfe Tones - 25th Anniversary (1991)
37. The Parting Glass by The High Kings - The High Kings (2008)
38. Master McGrath by The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell - Tunes 'n' Tales of Ireland (1988)
39. Red is the Rose by Danny Quinn - Gifts From a Bard (2005)