| Here in an extract from the book is what Packie, the source of the music, said about this particular tune: 56. THE WILLIGHAN BUSH 'That was a really nice highland, and it sounds Scottish, but it's Irish. We were talking about Pat Kennedy from Dunkineely - that was a favourite tune of his. It's a popular tune all over the west of Ireland. 'There was a fellow lived at Meenawilligan, and he used to lilt to that tune. He was a lovely singer.' I talked to Packie recently, and told him about my family research exploits. He was very interested, and gave a lot of details about Meenawilligan, a townland in County Donegal. However he doesn't know the origin of the tune 'The Wilighan Bush'. 'My father would have known', he said, but since Packie's 84 years old, his father is surprisingly no longer around..... The townland of Meenawilligan is in County Donegal, Gartan parish, Kilmacrenan barony. Basic map can be found here. |
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