March 7 (2003) saw the launch of the CD 'Misty Burn' by new Scots-Irish group Ailsa - Barbara Gray, Wilbert Garvin and Michael Sayers.  It's a unique collection of songs based on the work of three county Antrim poets, whose writings span three centuries - James Orr (Ballycarry) 1770-1816, Samuel Turner (Ballyclare) 1804-1861, and Harry T.Browne (Larne) 1881-1973.

The poems, written mainly in Braid-Scots, have been set to original music composed by Barbara, and Michael’s Scottish accent makes him the ideal singer for this album, on which he plays guitar and banjo.  Wilbert plays Uilleann pipes, Scottish Lowland pipes and whistles, and joins in with backing vocals, while Barbara adds keyboards and vocals.

The making of this CD (for which there is a complementary booklet, illustrated and annotated by Wilbert, and contains the poems in full) has been fascinating, as the research unearthed a vast amount of information on not only the dialect, but also the customs and social issues of the past three centuries.

The idea of writing the songs came as a result of coming across these works, particularly those of the almost unknown Samuel Turner, who somehow slipped unnoticed alongside the well-known weaver poets.  Many thanks are due to Alfie and Anna Thompson and Billy Rea, all of Glenwherry, for providing copies of the poems.

One of the greatest pleasures for Ailsa has been making contact with descendants of two of the poets -  two great-grandsons of Samuel Turner - Edward and George Turner, and Betty and Stephen Browne, and Lynda Browne, daugher-in-law, grandson and grand-daughter of H.T.Browne, all of whom have expressed their delight at, and approval of, this novel use of their relatives’ poems.

By recording the poems as folksongs with a contemporary appeal, Ailsa have provided a means of keeping social history alive.  Many a memory will be jogged by such characters as the spaewife and the travelling tailor, while social issues such as alcoholism, arranged marriage and lost love are all there.  The songs also portray two of the major events of the time - the Battle of Antrim, during the 1798 Rebellion of the United Irishmen, and the Potato Famine in the mid 19th century, paying homage to the efforts of Sir Robert Peel.  The CD also contains what is believed to be the only music written to accomodate Standard Habbie metre.

Many of the words in the poems have almost passed into obscurity, and invaluable help with translation was provided by Alex Davison and Maisie Kennedy.  NEELB Local Studies Library Service joined in the research with great enthusiasm and provided excellent background information.

Other musicians who joined Ailsa on Misty Burn are Maeve McKeon, Neil Hall, Adrian Hoy, Kenny McFadden, Paul McGivern and Mudd Wallace, who also engineered and co-produced the album.

Already Misty Burn has generated considerable interest and looks set to be the first of many collections.

The CD and booklet were produced with financial assistance from the Ulster-Scots Agency.

The CD, price £12.99, and the booklet, price £2.99, can be ordered from :

Ailsa, c/o 37 Kilgad Road, Kells, Ballymena, Co.Antrim, N.Ireland, BT42 3LY, or by email: Wilbert@leaghland.fsnet.co.uk