When Eleanor sat down to write her new album, I’d Rather Go Blonde, Ireland was in the grips of severe winter weather, a devastating economic crisis, and the continuing abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. The songs that emerged came straight from Eleanor’s own heart but their message is a reflection of the heart of all Ireland. The 6th song on the album, Shibboleth, is especially relevant in light of the news of the bailout of the Irish government this week. Eleanor described Shibboleth in a recent article in Irish Music Magazine. “What I did with that was a trick on what the old traditional Irish songs used to do where you weren’t allowed to talk about the conflict, or England, so they used to talk about Ireland as woman. I’m doing the same in Shibboleth. I’m singing as if it’s a person: ‘Mo ghra, mo chraoi, mo cuisle/How hard it is to see/ A mhuirin, they have brought you to your knees.’ But I’m actually singing about Ireland.
'Shibboleth' (E. McEvoy) Your beauty in the spotlight It was something to behold A final hope of something good A pool of solid gold Mo ghra, mo chroi, mo chuisle How hard it is to see A mhuirnin, they have brought you to your knees You Riverdanced around the world A shining shibboleth You dared to take the breath away Of everyone you met Mo ghra, mo chroi, mo chuisle How hard it is to see A mhuirnin, they have brought you to your knees The rains that you’re so famous for I’ve only realised Are just the tears you fail to keep Cascading from your eyes Mo ghra, mo chroi, mo chuisle How hard it is to see A mhuirnin, they have brought you to your knees Mo ghra, mo chroi, mo chuisle How hard it is to see A mhuirnin, they have brought you to your knees