I nominate …
Brigid O’Malley
(by any of its various spellings)
[ This Message was edited by: bob baksi on 2002-04-24 15:28 ]
You said tune, not song. That means Pinehurst, played by Joanie Madden. Period.
Amhran A Leabhair.
Thanks very much to Peter Laban for his history of this tune in a previous post (at http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=2494&forum=1 )
The air is beautiful in itself, but as a book lover I was doubly moved after reading the background of the tune.
For many folks,
sure shiney eyes spring,
An Feochan (Gentle Breeze),
by Tommy Peoples,
played by the late Frankie Kennedy,
or in his honor.
I also voice support for “An Feochan”, one of the strongest and yet most gentle airs I’ve yet heard.
Also for a tear-jerking air, don’t forget “The Parting of Friends,” especially the way Matt Molloy interprets it.
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
I once heard a version of O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music that just about had me slashing my wrists by the end – it was done by an orchestra, I have no idea which one, nor who had orchestrated it. In the right hands, Beauty in Tears is right up there, too.
Charlie
I nominate Aisling Gheal as played by Mary Bergin. It’s not a sad song, but a very powerful one emotionally nonetheless.
Inisheer done by Cherish the Ladies - the only Irish tune to make my cry (so far).
Susan
‘Women of Ireland’ - by just about anybody…
Cheers.
Byll
Leaving Lismoor, or Hector the Hero are my votes.
[ This Message was edited by: darvis on 2003-01-29 20:27 ]
“Protected by Angels” By Paddy Maloney on the Babe 2 : Pig in the City OST
“My Heart Will Go On” by just about anybody 
Paddy Keenan’s father John used to describe the kind of tunes you’re talking about as “a lonesome tune”. A very evocative expression.
The way I play them, ALL slow airs make people cry… 
This is not necessarily a good thing
Although it isn’t a traditional tune, The Black Cat by Lothlorien always cause my eyes to well up with tears! For the traditonal tunes, I would have to throw my vote to Amhran A Leabhair. The latter: tears of sadness-- the former: tears of beauty!
Jim
Caoineadh na dTri Muire
My vote goes to Joanie Madden’s version of The South Wind on “Song of the Irish Whistle.”
Steve
Although it’s not Irish, but Scottish, the best tearjerker is Dark Alan by Karen Matheson.
The Irish Washerwoman as performed by Tadusz Rasnijkow, aged 92 (Ward B, St. Mary’s Hospice for the Ailing, Andover, Mass, USA).