Lord Franklin Micheál O'Domhnaill

Many have tried including Dylan, Sineád O' Connor, Pentangle and John Renbourn but none have matched Micheál Ó'Domhnaill and Kevin Burke's version of Lord Franklin. Ireland lost a great perfomer with Micheál's untimely death in 2006. This is my tribute to a man I first saw perform in the Odeon Cinema in Tuam in the mid 70's alongside Mick Hanly. The following is an extract from his biography by Earle Hitchner
Even now, listening to "Lord Franklin" sung by him with his sister Triona adding harmony and Donal Lunny adding bouzouki, I am swept away again by the strength in fragility found in Micheal's uniquely evocative voice as he recounts Lord John Franklin's tragic expedition to find the Northwest Passage in the 1840s. Without question, this is the version of "Lord Franklin" against which all others will forever be judged.

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[heybanjo26]

jeez thanks for posting this - so beautiful, as a teenager i would go and see all the gigs - kevin and micheal, scullion, clannad, paul brady and all the rest and this song stands out as one of the most beautiful things i've ever heard - thanks again.

got scullion "cat she went a hunting"?

[frankmck45]

Pleasure. Will scour collection for Scullion. As a teenager I saw Micheál and Mick Hanley in the Odeon cinema Tuam as a warm up for Planxty I think. They called themselves Monroe. Mick Hanley lives 10 miles from me now as fate would have it. I know where all the other posters are coming from championing other versions of this but the intro on this is so special. My other favourite intro is Randy Edelman's Uptown Uptempo Woman. Some contrast.

[bonzodog47]

Beautiful version to be sure but aren't we forgetting Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick's rendition? If any performace deserves to be called 'definitive' then surely it was that one.

[frankmck45]

I have yielded on the definitive version to miceal22 above. In my opinion and I have the Carthy version the late Michéal O'Domhnaills version is the best but I respect all other opinions

[P Vp]

This recording is by the Bothy Band. Besides Micheál and Kevin, you hear Dónal Lunny on bouzouki and harmony vocals by Triona (Micheál's sister). (Matt Molloy and Paddy Keenan are around somewhere but don't participate in this song).

[frankmck45]

I borrowed this version from Celtic Graces:A best of Ireland. In the sleevenote it says "Two former members of the Bothy Bandturn in this version of the ballad.... It does indeed creditDonal and Triona but it is from Promenade an album released as a duo by Micheál and Kevin

[frankmck45]

I borrowed this version from Celtic Graces:A best of Ireland. In the sleevenote it says "Two former members of the Bothy Band turn in this version of the ballad.... It does indeed credit Donal and Triona but it is from Promenade an album released as a duo by Micheál and Kevin

[frankmck45]

Semantically you are correct. But I think you know what I mean. I have around 8 versions of this on CD but this one , for me, is the one that plants the pictures in my head and the intro is amazing

[Steffi Reitsch]

This is a beautiful rendition, however if you want to hear a bloke who can sing it like a true English sailor, give Paul Cornwall's "Lord Franklin" a listen on You Tube. Paul's LF is my favourite of all. Then tell me what you think.

[Burton Keeble]

I've heard several different performers tackle Lord Franklin. O'Domnhaill's rendition hits the closest to home for me. The blending of the voices is supurb and Donal Lunny's bouzouki adds a haunting dimension.

[Marcello Rosignoli]

bellissima versione..

[Paul Lavan]

So difficult to say whether this or Mr Cathy's version is THE version. I can't decide.

[sazji]

Ah, I envy you! I was a teenager growing up in Iowa, listening to this stuff on records and wishing I could actually experience a live performance. It was recently that I came into contact with Irish music again, and was so saddened to hear that Michéal O'Domhnaill had died. I hate it when we lose a brilliant artist anyway, but so untimely.

[rufus566]

I agree, I always loved Pentangle's version but you get to such a stratosphere of amazing talent that "definitive" versions are pointless to compare. You are either brilliant and in that exclusive club or you are not, and that is the only comparisons I like to make.

[johnjtheoriginal]

i love it but pentangle are good too :-)

[jacquesbrelfan]

i agree martin carthy was there first brilliant but this version is brilliant too