Sarah Makem facts for kids
Sarah Makem (born October 18, 1900, died April 20, 1983) was a famous traditional Irish singer. She came from Keady, a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Sarah was married to Peter Makem, who played the fiddle. She was also the mother of well-known musicians Tommy Makem and Jack Makem. Her grandchildren, like Tom Sweeney and Shane, Conor, and Rory Makem, also became musicians. Sarah and her cousin, Annie Jane Kelly, were part of a singing group called the Singing Greenes of Keady.
In the 1950s, people who collected songs from the United States visited Ireland. They wanted to record Ireland's old music. Sarah Makem was one of the singers they recorded. Important collectors like Diane Guggenheim Hamilton, Jean Ritchie, Peter Kennedy, and Sean O'Boyle recorded her. Her singing of "As I Roved Out" was even used to start a BBC Radio folk music show in the 1950s.
Sarah's Early Life
Sarah Makem lived in Keady for her entire life. Keady is a market town near the border of Ulster. Because of this, her music was influenced by Irish, Scottish, and English traditions. Sarah learned many songs from her mother. She would listen while her mother did chores like cooking. Sarah could often learn a song after hearing it just once. She also learned some songs from other children at school.
Sarah left school early to work in a factory. Many girls in her town became weavers. She worked long hours, from 7 AM to 6:30 PM. After work, she would often have music sessions with other musicians in her area. Sarah married Peter Makem in 1919.
Her Singing Career
Sarah Makem did not see herself as a professional musician. However, she had a very active singing life. She was a ballad singer, meaning she sang long story-songs. She knew over five hundred songs by heart. Sarah described these songs as "life stories" about love, murder, and people moving to other countries.
She recorded many of her songs, mostly for people to collect and study. One of her songs, "As I Roved Out," became famous. It was used as the opening song for a BBC radio show about Irish folk music. The show was even named after her ballad. Sarah did not plan for her recording to be used this way. She felt a bit shy knowing her voice would be heard across Ireland every day.
Some of Sarah's Songs
Sarah Makem knew, sang, and passed down hundreds of songs. Here are a few examples:
- "As I Roved Out"
- "Barbara Allen"
- "The Butcher Boy"
- "The Factory Girl"
- "May Morning Dew"
- "Willie Reilly"
- "The Wind That Shakes the Barley"
Recordings of Sarah Makem
Sarah Makem's singing was recorded many times. Her songs are included on several albums. Here are some of the recordings that feature her voice:
- Ulster Ballad Singer (1967) - This album is all about Sarah Makem.
- Field Trip (1954) - An album by Jean Ritchie.
- The Lark in the Morning (1956) - Features Liam Clancy and others.
- The Voice of the People: Sarah Makem: The Heart Is True (2012) - Another album focused on Sarah Makem.
In 2009, her song "The Banks of Red Roses" was part of a special collection. It was included in Topic Records' 70-year anniversary box set called Three Score and Ten.
