The Boys of Barr na Sráide

Many people like me consider “The Boys of Barr na Sráide” to be one of the most beautiful and definitive” Irish Ballads of all time and hence my version of this song as I love it so much and it brings back so many happy memories for me. Written by Sigerson Cifford who grew up in Cahersiveen and taken from “Ballads of a Bogman” it tells the true story of the boys of Cahersiveen Co. Kerry in the early 1900’s who lived on Barr na Sráide (Top Street) and of the old Irish tradition of Wren Day which is still celebrated today in Ireland on 26th December, but purely in a symbolic way these days. Kerry people are a very resourceful and kindly folk and are fiercely and rightly proud of their own distinctive wonderful landscape, culture and traditions. I have included in the video some of my personal favourite places in the wonderful County of Kerry which I have come to know and love over many decades.