The Lakes of Shilin

Original Track ID

SA1971.191.4

Original Tape ID

SA1971.191

Summary

In this song, Willie Leonard rises on a summer's morning and decides to go secretly bathing with a friend of his. On approaching the lake, they meet a gamekeeper who warns them off as the waters are dangerous. Ignoring his advice, Willie swims across the lake twice and swims round it once, attempting to reach an island. Noticing him getting into trouble, Willie's uncle comes with a rope to rescue him, but Willie succumbs to the water. His mother comes the next morning to see the spot where her son perished, cursing the lake.

Item Notes

Approx 4 and a half verses. Performed live in concert at the 'Scott Conference Ceilidh', held as part of the bicentennial celebrations of Sir Walter Scott's birth, and compèred by Hamish Henderson.

This song is known by many different titles, including 'Willie Leonard' (the name of the main character here), 'Lakes of Coolfin';'Loch of Shilin' and 'Billy Henry' are the most common Scottish titles. The source of the version here, however, seems to be Irish. According to the Sam Henry collection, the location is thought to be in the old Barony of Loughinsholin, around Lough Beg, north of Lough Neagh on the border of the old Irish counties of Londonderry, Tyrone and Antrim. Another suggestion is the River Agivey at Inisholeen, north of Garvagh, and compèred by Hamish Henderson, and compèred by Hamish Henderson.

See:
Greig-Duncan, vol. 2, song 228, pp. 158-160
'Folksongs of Britain and Ireland', (ed. Peter Kennedy, rep. 1984) pp. 708-709, 729.
'Sam Henry's Songs of the People', (ed. Gale Huntington, Lani Herrmann, John Moulden, 1990) p. 146.

Item Subject/Person

Leonard, Willie

Recording Location

Language

Scots

Genre

Song

Collection

SoSS

Classification

R189 GD228 LQ33

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good