Jimmy McCurry facts for kids

Jimmy McCurry (born James McCurry, 1830–1910) was a talented blind Irish fiddler, singer, and songwriter. People also called him Blind Jimmy McCurry or the Blind Fiddler from Myroe. He came from Myroe in County Londonderry, Ireland.

A Fiddler's Life

James McCurry was born in 1830 in Carrowclare, County Londonderry. He was one of six children. Jimmy was blind from the day he was born.

He married Elizabeth Forrest. Sadly, she passed away not long after they got married. Their only child, a daughter, also died when she was twelve years old.

Jimmy lived to be 80 years old. He passed away on October 26, 1910, in the Limavady workhouse. Three days later, he was buried in an unmarked grave. This was in the churchyard of Tamlaght Finlagan Parish Church.

His Music and Songs

Jimmy McCurry was known for his many songs. However, none of his songs were written down or recorded while he was alive.

How His Songs Survived

Later, in the 1920s, a music expert named Sam Henry published three of Jimmy's songs. These appeared in a newspaper called the Northern Constitution.

Other songs were kept alive by local singers. People like John Fleming and Eddie Butcher sang them. Between 1954 and 1975, a person named Hugh Shields recorded these songs on tape.

Today, these recordings are kept safe. You can find them at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. They are also part of the Hugh Shields Collection at the Irish Traditional Music Archive.

Fun in His Songs

Jimmy's songs often had a funny side. They sometimes made fun of people his audience knew. This was meant to make everyone laugh at the expense of the people mentioned.

The Famous Londonderry Air

There is a local story about Jimmy McCurry and a very famous tune. This tune is the Londonderry Air, which is the melody for the song Danny Boy.

The story says that in 1851, Jimmy played this tune in Limavady. A woman named Jane Ross heard him and wrote down the music. This is how the tune became known.

However, this story was first told by Sam Henry long after Jimmy died. Because of this, some people are not sure if it is completely true.

Jimmy McCurry's Songs

Seven of Jimmy McCurry's songs are still known today:

• "Ballycarton Ball"
• "Killyclare (The Maid of Carrowclare)"
• "The Maid of the Foyle"
• "Coleraine Regatta"
• "The Myroe Ploughing Match"
• "Sarah Jane"
• "The Star of Moville"

Some other songs by Jimmy McCurry have been mentioned, but they have not survived:

• A song about many people named William Moores who lived in Myroe.
• A song called "Paídín Rua" about a woman who had upset him.
• A song about two girls named McCausland bathing in the River Roe.
• A song about a trick played on him by a man named Phillips.
• A song about a Mrs Simpson and some buttermilk she gave him.
• A song about Liz O'Neill and some Kerry Blue potatoes.