It was when I first visited Ireland that I was able to immerse myself in the atmosphere of rebellious joy that defines Irish music. June had some luck and came into a little bit of money so she bought the family an equestrian vacation in County Clare. We spent 10 days riding through the burns, the mountains, along the Cliffs of Moher and not too far from where the fields of Athenry are. Riding on horseback through the Irish countryside is pretty rustic. It was rainy and cold and none of the gear was right so we spent some uncomfortable days soaked and in the saddle. For lunch we had cheese and crackers and a small ration of whiskey for the cold. At the end of the day we’d have dinner and just go to bed. There wasn't a lot of entertainment other than just talking. That was when I began to imagine myself inhabiting the songs as we rode through the beautiful countryside.

The Fields of Athenry in particular is a special song to me because of my experiences in Ireland and Australia. I've traveled from County Clare to Botany Bay where many Irish people were sent on prison ships so I got this sense of what it was like, the struggle of these people and what came out of it, which is a rich culture of music and storytelling that everybody can connect with. Everyone can identify with finding joy and rebellion in struggle. You hear it in the music. There's a lot of pain, but it’s a pain that is communicated in a joyful way.

Nearing the end of our vacation we arrived in this little town that is known for courtship. Once a year all the young people would have a week of courtship dances and try to find a mate. We just happened to be there at that particular time and on our last night I went down to the pub to see if the musicians would let me play with them. They welcomed me in and we were playing Clancy Brothers and Dubliners tunes when a busload of tourists came into the pub. The chatter went so high that you couldn't hear a thing. One of the notable things that I always thought was interesting about Ireland is that there is no PA system in the pubs. So if there's a musician playing people are willing to be entertained and oftentimes will go to the pub just to listen because that's part of their culture. But these tourists interrupted all this with their chatter so I proposed to the musicians that maybe I could get them to shut up because I could sing above them. They were skeptical but in the end said: “Okay Yank give it your best” and we played the Fields of Athenry.

It’s a very sad and moving song. I might have had a couple pints more than I should have and after my experience riding through the countryside I became that character in the song. I got all the attention of the people and it quieted down. I cried as I sang because I poured everything that I possibly could in it. At the end of the song, to my surprise and delight and something that I never experienced before, the audience of tourists came over to us with drinks. Then they stood in front of us and out of nowheres they began to sing and they sang with the same purpose that I had been singing to them. I believe they wanted me to feel that power, whatever that was, they wanted to give it back to me. So they sang In the Jungle; all of the different parts of it. Turns out they were a professional choir from Belgium. They didn't speak English but we spoke that musical language and out of all of my experiences in music that had never happened to me before so that's why that song will always hold a special place in my memory. All of these songs have the potential to bring people together. You experience it when people sing along to The Black Velvet Band or clap during The Wild Rover. You don't have to teach that, people want to learn, and it’s these songs that have a way of drawing everyone in so they can feel what it’s like to be a part of this music.
- Joe Hillman, Feb 2024