*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.

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Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

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