The name “Mae Reynolds” appeared very often in local newspapers and publications, particularly during the 70s when she sang in establishments all over the country – usually with Cloone musician and singer, Paddy Kelly.
But if you go back to the 60s, she headlined at various events, billed as a “champion ballad singer” or “Leitrim’s Queen of Song”
All-Ireland Champion
An All-Ireland Ballad Singing Champion in 1962, Mae was a real local celebrity and was soon called on for recordings and TV appearances. Mae can recall going over to the neighbour’s house in the early 50s to listen to the BBC broadcasting of neighbouring ballad singer, Tom Moran. She was surprised when she was later asked by Séamus Ennis to record a few tracks in 1954.
She sang two local songs “The Shores of Lough Bran” and “Sweet Mohill for Me” as well as “The Lakes of Shallin” (or Lough Sheelin) and “My Darling Sleeps in England”.
All copyrighted to the BBC but accessible from ITMA ( Irish Traditional Music Archive) Dublin.
Here is a recording of Mae though from 1961 singing “The Home I Left Behind” as recorded in Drumshanbo for RTE.
Comhaltas Recordings
Thanks to Comhaltas Traditional Music Archive for allowing us to share two recordings of Mae – “The Slopes of Selton Hill” and “The Shores of Lough Bran”. Two great Leitrim ballads that Mae sang with great pride. “The Slopes of Selton Hill” was written by Aughavas man Michael Whelan to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of a tragic event that happened locally during the War of Independence.
R.I.P. Mae – December 2024, Michael – November 2023
