Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
The Day is Past and Gone - Olivia Phillips, Beech Mountain, Western North Carolina, USA.
Here is a recording I made yesterday with a young American singer who is staying with us here in Wexford for 10 days. Olivia is a traditional singer from the Appalachians and we recorded this song at a Holy Well near me called Ballinacoola here in Ballindaggin north Wexford.
Olivia tells me that is a Primitive Baptist tune that she learned from the singing of Buna Hicks from Beech Mountain in Western North Carolina. Gorgeous singing and tone and interestingly the Holy Well has an American connection as it was a local Priest called Rev. J.H. O’Neill who returned from America one Summer in 1896 and suggested that the locals protect the Holy Well and build this structure around it. As a result, the Holy Well has survived and lovely to hear an American song sung at it yesterday.
On an aside. Olivia is doing a series of concerts here for the next 3 days and is in Carlow tonight, Bunclody library tomorrow night and Wexford Arts Centre on Friday. Go check her out - the real thing.
Text: Michael Fortune
The Day is Past and Gone - Olivia Phillips, Beech Mountain, Western North Carolina, USA.
Here is a recording I made yesterday with a young American singer who is staying with us here in Wexford for 10 days. Olivia is a traditional singer from the Appalachians and we recorded this song at a Holy Well near me called Ballinacoola here in Ballindaggin north Wexford.
Olivia tells me that is a Primitive Baptist tune that she learned from the singing of Buna Hicks from Beech Mountain in Western North Carolina. Gorgeous singing and tone and interestingly the Holy Well has an American connection as it was a local Priest called Rev. J.H. O’Neill who returned from America one Summer in 1896 and suggested that the locals protect the Holy Well and build this structure around it. As a result, the Holy Well has survived and lovely to hear an American song sung at it yesterday.
On an aside. Olivia is doing a series of concerts here for the next 3 days and is in Carlow tonight, Bunclody library tomorrow night and Wexford Arts Centre on Friday. Go check her out - the real thing.
Text: Michael Fortune
