Toss the Feathers album - traditional Irish music by Dermot Crehan and Paul Honey

The Death of
Staker Wallace

Featured on "Toss the Feathers" album

Dermot has fond memories of his Dad teaching this wonderful slow air to the legendary flute player Matt Molloy in the the front room of the family home in Dublin.

The story behind "The Death of Staker Wallace":

William Wallace was an Irish freedom fighter who achieved fame when he was brutally executed for independence activities by a pro-British nobleman around 1798. A local captain of The United Irishmen, it is thought that his nickname 'Staker' may derive from the fact that his severed head was placed on a stake following his execution to serve as a warning to others.

Another story suggests that his nickname was linked to the stakes used in commonages. Common land was enclosed by landlords who would then demand high rents for this land. The story goes that Staker Wallace helped pull up the stakes used to fence the common land.

Listen to extracts from the album now »

Track arranged by Dermot Crehan and Paul Honey
on their album "Toss the Feathers"
featuring traditional arrangements of Celtic music.

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                 Irish Music     Irish Fiddle Music     Celtic Music      Irish Music CD to buy     The Musicians     Toss the Feathers
                 Listen to Irish Music     Dermot Crehan     Paul Honey     Give me Your Hand     Lenney's Reel     The Wild Geese
                The Death of Staker Wallace     The Drunken Gauger     The Enchanted Valley     Were you at the Rock