*Queen Elizabeth and members of the Royal Family. Photograph: The Royal Family
TONES of Spancil Hill were part of the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
Queen Elizabeth became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service with a four day event held in recognition.
For the historic occasion, the celebrations began in Britain with strains of ‘Spancil Hill’ as the Irish Guards were given the task of Trooping the Colour. The ceremony is performed every year for the Queen’s birthday, but the honour of carrying it out for her 70th anniversary was given to the Irish Guards – a regiment in the British army since 1900.
A special musical arrangement of ‘Spancil Hill’ and the ‘Cliffs of Dooneen’ called the ‘Mists of the Shannon’ played for the royal inspection. Then more upbeat marching tunes included, ‘I’ll Tell me Ma’, ‘Paddy McGinty’s Goat’ and ‘MacNamara’s Band’.
Programme notes explained, “The Shannon River is the longest running river in the British Isles and can be seen from the Cliffs of Dooneen. It separates the counties of Clare and Kerry, from where the two tunes originate. The river is often covered by gentle mists which are referred to by locals as the mists of the Shannon”.
Among the eagle-eyed viewers to recognise the tune of Spancil Hill were Clare photographer, John Kelly who quipped that he was expecting to hear the late Robbie McMahon during the celebrations while hurling supporters in the county noted that it was fitting for Munster Final week.
Is it only me or are they playing “The Cross of Spancilhill” at the Trooping of The Colour, seen here on Sky News. Im half expecting the late great Robbie Mc Mahon to pop up somewhere…😃 #honthebanner pic.twitter.com/MzW4Trhb75
— John Kelly (@jkphoto68) June 2, 2022
