The 1951 Rolling Review Show … (Midweek Melody) # 104
Welcome to the 1951 Rolling Review Show which twice weekly features pieces of music I have enjoyed at some time in my life. I hope you enjoy them as well. Let me know if you do.
“Down by the Sally Gardens “- Clannad
“Down by the Salley Gardens” is a poem by William Butler Yeats published in The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems in 1889. It has been suggested that the location of the “Salley Gardens” was on the banks of the river at Ballysadare near Sligo where the residents cultivated trees to provide roof thatching materials. “Salley” or “sally” is a form of the Standard English word “sallow”, i.e., a tree of the genus Salix. It is close in sound to the Irish word saileach, meaning willow. The verse was subsequently set to music and the song has been part of the repertoire of many singers and groups.
This version is by the wonderful Irish group Clannad.
1951 Club 
Wasn’t it Clannad that got Enya’s career started? A great group! Always loved them. 🙂
Quite right. She was a member of Clannad before leaving in 1980 to pursue a solo career. Both continue to produce wonderful work. 😊
🙂