MARGARET O`REILLY ~ THE QUEEN OF BALLADS. Podcast Special with Martin Donohoe With his Rambles around Ireland . Margaret O ‘ Reilly  from Loch Gowna, who was fondly known as “Queen of the Ballads”, was the proud holder of nine All Ireland titles for traditional ballad singing and won county titles at Fleadh Ceoils in different parts of the country. Margaret’s favourite song was “The Gallant John Joe”, which she sang many times at local concerts in Ireland, Scotland and England. Margaret once entered a “Spot the Talent Competition” in Dublin where she sang the ballad about Charles Stewart Parnell “Blackbird From Sweet Avondale”.  This lead to a meeting with Jack Farmer, a record producer, and resulted in Margaret recording  “ My Gentle Mother” , “ Sons of Gratitude”, “Lough Sheelin Side”, “ My Father’s Garden” and “The Blind Child”.  These records sold well and were played many times on radio.  Margaret also featured on severalRTE Irish Music Programmes including “The Long Note”. Margaret died in March 1994 Mrs Margaret O Reilly with the Ratholine Cup for Ladies Traditional Singing Produced by James Clarke

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