'THE ISLE OF INNISFREE' - history of this song, its writer & the correct lyrics:

[Gerard Farrelly]

Gerard Farrelly (Son of the composer)

Re: 禅HE ISLE OF INNISFREE' theme of the film 禅he Quiet Man'

The facts about this song, its writer & the correct lyrics: -

I am a professional musician, from Dublin Ireland, and I am the son of
the composer of this song. My father's name was Richard Farrelly but
he was better known all his life as Dick Farrelly and he was a member
of An Garda Siochana, (The Irish Police force), he died in August
1990. My father wrote the words and music of the 選sle Of Innisfree'
in 1949 on a bus journey to Dublin from his hometown of Kells,
Co.Meath.
This was his most famous song. It became a huge international hit for
Bing Crosby in 1952 and was chosen by John Ford as the theme music for
禅he Quiet Man'.

The melody is first heard during the opening credits sequence and
becomes the love theme for John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. My father
never received proper recognition for writing the films famous theme
song; neither his name nor the title of his song appeared in the
production credits. Instead, the films musical arranger Victor Young
got the soul credit, a practice not uncommon in the 40's and 50's.
The Peter Maurice Music Co. Ltd. published the 選sle Of Innisfree' in
1950.

Incidentally, The song 禅he Isle Of Innisfree' has nothing whatsoever
to do with the W.B.Yeat's poem 禅he Lake Isle Of Innisfree'. Also,
there are many incorrect versions of the lyrics all over the web and
indeed on some recordings, anyone who would like the exact words as
written by my dad will find them on my website
www.stoneandfarrelly.com.

Irish singer Sinead Stone and I have recorded our debut album, 銑egacy
Of A Quiet Man', which is a collection of my father's best-known songs
including the 選sle Of Innisfree' and 舛ottage By The Lee'; the CD is
available through our website.

On a personal note - It is a source of great joy to both the family
and myself that 53 years after my father composed this song and 13
years since his death, that so many people the world over, so love his
選nnisfree', and are still recording and performing it.

Kind regards,
Gerard Farrelly

[karenja...@gmail.com]

Thank you for sharing this information.

It is terrible to think of your father's songwriting not being credited to the movie, especially as it was featured throughout the movie.

Kind regards

Karen