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

The Wild Geese

Featured on "Toss the Feathers" album

The Story Behind The Wild Geese

The Irish air dates back to the mid‑17th century and commemorates the thousands of Irish soldiers who fled to France and Spain after the Treaty of Limerick in 1691, preferring an honorable exile to remaining in their country when their cause was lost.

A legend has it that the air was sung by the women assembled on the shore at the time the troops embarked at the defeat of the Irish chiefs.

This wonderful melody is dedicated to the memory of Eileen Crehan (otherwise known as the Crehan family’s producer). She had 10 children: 6 fiddle players (including Dermot), a cellist, a flautist and a pianist. She didn’t have much time for Irish music (referring to it as 'Fiddly Diddly Di' music), but she loved this air.

Listen to an extract of "The Wild Geese" 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