Special Collections
There are many special collections within the Binneas archive. These include documents and recordings of a particular musician or singer, the music and steps to set dances and ballad sheet collections. Once the ongoing work of researching, preserving and organising specific collections in the archive a selection will then be made available in this section of the website.
New to the Binneas Collection
A collection of Penny Ballad sheets from Paddy Corcoran, Cappawee, Portmagee
Bailiúchán de ‘penny ballads’. Dhíoladh an lucht siúil na penny ballads de ghnáth ar lá aonaigh. Cuireadh na bailéid i gcló ar pháipéar saor de dhathanna éagsúla. Chanadh díoltóir na mbailéad na hamhráin chun aird a mhealladh, an fonn a mhúineadh agus é a dhíol.
Duine de na príomhdhíoltóirí bailéad go háitiúil sna 1940idí ab ea é Mikeen McCarthy a rugadh ar an bhFaiche Mhór i gCathair Saidhbhín. Ba mhór an tábhacht a bhain leis na bileoga bailéad agus leis an díoltóir bailéad chun amhráin nua a thabhairt isteach sa phobal. Is ó Paddy Corcoran, an Cheapach Bhuí, An Caladh a fuarthas na penny ballads agus ceannaíodh thar roinnt mhaith blianta iad ar laethanta aonaigh i gCathair Saidhbhín. Bhailigh agud dhigitigh Peter Mullarkey iad don bhailiúchán ‘Binneas’ mar chuid de ‘Thionscnamh na Meithleacha’ le tacaíocht ó Ealaín na Gaeltachta.
A collection of penny ballads. The penny ballads were typically sold by the travellers on a fair day. the ballads were printed on cheap paper of varying colour. The ballad seller would sing the ballads to
attract attention, teach the air and accomplish a sale. One of the main ballad sellers locally in the 1940's was Mikeen McCarthy who was born on the Fairgreen Cahersiveen. The importance of the ballad sheets and ballad seller in introducing new songs into a community is not to be underestimated.
The penny ballads are from Paddy Corcoran, Cappawee, Portmagee and were bought over numerous years on Cahersiveen fair days. They were collected and digitised for the Binneas Collection by Peter Mullarkey as part of the 'Meitheal Initiative' supported by Ealaín na Gaeltachta.
Ballad sheet collection
(Mike Shea, Dromod)
This collection of Ballad sheets come courtesy of Mike Shea, Dromod , who generously donated them to the Binneas Collection. They belonged to his mother. On a fair day songs could be purchased from peddlers who would sell the popular songs of the day on ballad sheets. The songs were relatively inexpensive and were generally printed on poor quality paper. The ballad sheets were much sort after as a means of learning the words to newly composed ballads or songs played on the radio. The ballad sheets give us an invaluable insight into how songs from outside the area become absorbed into the local song repertoire.
