Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. At Waterford Regional Technical College she studied piano then took music at University College Dublin in 1987. Having learned to copy Ella Fitzgerald's scat singing, she performed in a Dublin bistro several nights per week while still a student. At the Royal Irish Academy of Music she studied classical music and sang in a jazz band, then a folk-ballad band, then another jazz band. She also fell under the influence of Dublin folk singer Frank Harte. During this time she also formed her own band, called Dorothy.
In 1993 Karan moved to New York City. There she studied jazz at Long Island University. When she encountered Irish traditional music sessions in New York she started singing Irish traditional music again. During this time she mostly sang in bars and locals. For most of 1994 she sang with a group called Atlantic Bridge. At the end of the year she joined Seamus Egan and others in Solas. She sang five songs on their first album in 1996. In the same year she sang in Tramps club in Manhattan, accompanied only by a percussionist. They mixed jazz and folk. In 1997 she recorded a solo album, Songlines, inspired by the novel of the same name by Bruce Chatwin. It was produced by Seamus Egan and included several members of Solas. There were a few traditional songs and some contemporary folk songs.
In 2000 Karan collaborated with several other singers on "Seal Maiden - A Celtic Musical". It was a musical version of the film "The Secret of Roan Inish", designed for children. It concerns the mythical creature called the selkie - a seal-woman. Since then Karan has recorded three further solo albums released in 2001, 2003 and 2005. In a salute to her Celtic roots, several tracks were recorded in her native Irish tongue. She also features on the DVD "Solas Live".
Her 2005 album Chasing the Sun includes a number of songs Casey wrote herself. Her records are released by Shanachie Records in the United States and Vertical Records in Europe.
Karan is now living in County Cork, and is married to Niall Vallely, a composer and player of traditional Irish music.
Solo albums
* Songlines (1997)
* Seal Maiden (2000)
* The Winds Begin To Sing (2001)
* Distant Shore (2003)
* Chasing The Sun (2005)
Recordings with Solas
* Solas (1996)
* Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers (1997)
* The Words That Remain (1998)
* Reunion: A Decade of Solas (2006, CD and DVD)
As session musician
* Dancing at Lughnasa (film) (1998)
* Waking Ned Devine (film) (1999)
* "Celtic Solstice" by Paul Winter
Shamrock Shore
Karan Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hope you will attend awhile
'Tis the wrongs of dear old Ireland I am going to relate
'Twas black and cursed was the day
When our parliament was taken away
And all of our griefs and sufferings commences from that day
For our hardy sons and daughters fair
And leave their native land behind in sorrow to deplore
Fo seek employment they must roam
Far, far away from the native home
From that sore, oppressed island that they call the shamrock shore
Now Ireland is with plenty blessed
But the people, we are sore oppressed
All by those cursed tyrants we are forced for to obey
Some haughty landlords for to please
Our houses and our lands they'll seize
To put fifty farms into one and take us all away
Regardless of the widow's sighs
The mother's tears and orphan's cries
In thousands we were driven from home which grieves my heart full sore
We were forced by famine and disease
To emigrate across the seas
From that sore, opressed island that they called the shamrock shore
Our sustenance all taken away
The tithes and taxes for to pay
To support that law-protected church to which they do adhere
And our Irish gentry, well you know
To other countries they do go
And the money from old Ireland they squandered here and there
For if our squires would stay at home
And not to other countries roam
But to build mills and factories here to employ the laboring poor
For if we had trade and commerce here
To me no nation could compare
To that sore, oppressed island that they call the shamrock shore
John Bull, he boasts, he laughs with scorn
And he says that Irishman is born
To be always discontented for at home we cannot agree
But we'll banish the tyrants from our land
And in harmony like sisters stand
To demand the rights of Ireland, let us all united be
And our parliament in College Green
For to assemble, it will be seen
And happy days in Erin's Isle we soon will have once more
And dear old Ireland soon will be
A great and glorious country
And peace and blessings soon will smile all around the shamrock shore
The song "Shamrock Shore" by Karan Casey is a lament for the plight of the Irish people due to the oppression they suffered at the hands of their conquerors. The lyrics are devoted to detailing the ills and injustices that have befallen Ireland, such as the loss of their parliament, the taking of their lands, and the flight of their gentry to other countries. The song speaks of the hardships of the Irish people, who were forced to leave their native land behind in order to find employment. The song highlights the plight of the widow, the mother, and the orphan who are forced to leave their homes and trade the familiar faces of their loved ones for the unknown faces of strangers in foreign lands. But amidst all the difficulties, the singer holds out hope that one day Ireland will rise again, that the parliament will assemble once more, and that the nation will once again be great and glorious.
One interesting fact about "Shamrock Shore" is that it is based on a traditional tune that dates back to the 18th century. Another interesting fact is that the song has been recorded by various artists, such as Dolores Keane, The Dubliners, and Altan. The song has been performed at various events, such as at the 1982 Irish Folk Festival in Germany, and the 2009 Milwaukee Irish Fest. The song has also been featured in the TV series "Penny Dreadful." The song is often played on St. Patrick's Day and other Irish-themed events. The song has been included in the play "Beyond The Pale," which was performed at the Irish Arts Center in New York.
The chords for "Shamrock Shore" are D, G, D, A-7, D, G, D, A-7.
Overall, "Shamrock Shore" is a poignant song that captures the struggles and hopes of the Irish people in their quest for freedom and independence. It is a song that resonates with anyone who has ever had to leave their loved ones behind to seek a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
You brave young sons of Erin's Isle
Addressing the audience, expressing hope that they will listen
I hope you will attend awhile
Expressing the desire for the audience to pay attention
'Tis the wrongs of dear old Ireland I am going to relate
Explaining the purpose of the song, which is to recount the mistreatment of Ireland
'Twas black and cursed was the day
Depicting the day the parliament was taken away as a dark and cursed day
When our parliament was taken away
Referring to the loss of Ireland's parliament and governmental power
And all of our griefs and sufferings commences from that day
Attributing Ireland's problems to the loss of the parliament
For our hardy sons and daughters fair
Describing the Irish people as strong and beautiful
To other countries must repair
Explaining that many Irish people leave their homeland to find work
And leave their native land behind in sorrow to deplore
Conveying the sadness and regret that Irish people feel upon leaving their home
Fo seek employment they must roam
Explaining that Irish people are forced to travel to find work
Far, far away from the native home
Describing how far Irish people are forced to travel to work
From that sore, oppressed island that they call the shamrock shore
Referring to Ireland as an oppressed and sorrowful place
Now Ireland is with plenty blessed
Acknowledging that Ireland is a rich and plentiful place
But the people, we are sore oppressed
Stating that Irish people are still suffering despite Ireland's riches
All by those cursed tyrants we are forced for to obey
Blaming the oppressors for Ireland's problems
Some haughty landlords for to please
Describing how some people serve the landlords to their own benefit
Our houses and our lands they'll seize
Explaining how the landlords take away Irish people's homes and lands
To put fifty farms into one and take us all away
Describing how the landlords merge many farms into one and force Irish people out of their homes
Regardless of the widow's sighs
Explaining how the landlords do not care about the sorrow of Irish widows
The mother's tears and orphan's cries
Acknowledging the sadness and suffering of Irish mothers and orphans
In thousands we were driven from home which grieves my heart full sore
Expressing the sadness and heartbreak of seeing so many Irish people forced out of their homes
We were forced by famine and disease
Referring to the Great Famine in Ireland, which caused many people to leave
To emigrate across the seas
Explaining how Irish people were forced to leave and go across the sea to other countries
From that sore, opressed island that they called the shamrock shore
Repeating the description of Ireland as an oppressed and sorrowful place
Our sustenance all taken away
Stating that Irish people's means of support were taken away
The tithes and taxes for to pay
Referring to the taxes and payments that Irish people were forced to make
To support that law-protected church to which they do adhere
Explaining how the taxes and payments were used to support the Church of Ireland
And our Irish gentry, well you know
Referring to the wealthy and upper class citizens of Ireland
To other countries they do go
Explaining how the wealthy Irish people leave to find more prosperity in other countries
And the money from old Ireland they squandered here and there
Stating that the wealthy Irish people wasted money and did not help their own country
For if our squires would stay at home
Positing that Ireland would be better off if the wealthy citizens stayed and contributed
And not to other countries roam
Explaining that Ireland would be better off if its wealthy citizens did not leave
But to build mills and factories here to employ the laboring poor
Stating that the wealthy Irish people could help by building businesses and creating jobs in Ireland
For if we had trade and commerce here
Contemplating how Ireland would be better off if it had more industry and trade
To me no nation could compare
Expressing how great Ireland would be with more prosperity and industry
To that sore, oppressed island that they call the shamrock shore
Once again describing Ireland as a place of suffering and oppression
John Bull, he boasts, he laughs with scorn
Referring to England and how it mocks Ireland
And he says that Irishman is born
Describing how England stereotypes Irish people as always being unhappy
To be always discontented for at home we cannot agree
Acknowledging how Irish people have struggled to come together
But we'll banish the tyrants from our land
Stating that Irish people want to remove their oppressors
And in harmony like sisters stand
Expressing the desire for Irish people to come together in unity
To demand the rights of Ireland, let us all united be
Stating the importance of Irish people working together to achieve their rights
And our parliament in College Green
Referring to the desire for Ireland to have its own parliament again
For to assemble, it will be seen
Expressing the desire to see Ireland's parliament return
And happy days in Erin's Isle we soon will have once more
Expressing the hope for a brighter future and happier times in Ireland
And dear old Ireland soon will be
Describing the love and affection for Ireland
A great and glorious country
Expressing the belief that Ireland can be great and glorious
And peace and blessings soon will smile all around the shamrock shore
Expressing the hope for peace and prosperity to come to Ireland
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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