Mary Dillon

The Green Fields of Canada

The Green Fields of Canada is a very poignant song of emigration, the singer lamenting the difficulties of home and yearning for
the greener field across the Atlantic. 

Emigration only occurs when life at home is too harsh, and the lure of a better existence elsewhere too strong. Ireland has had for centuries an undeniable link with North America, emigrants drawn to its seemingly endless possibilities. The bearing the diaspora has had on that continent
is unfathomable. 

As we often find in the Irish song tradition, the words here are full of hope but the melody is one of sad despair, implying that deep down the singer knows before heading across the ocean that things won’t actually be that good – home will be missed.

Biography

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It is a rare treat to have Mary Dillon collaborate on this project with us on Folk Park Live. She was raised in a musical household and one of her five siblings is fellow folk singer Cara Dillon. 

Mary Dillon started singing at an early age and by her mid-teens, she had twice won the All Ireland Singing Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. 

She has recorded three albums with the Irish traditional band Déanta. She launched her solo career in 2010 and joined fellow Irish folk singers Niamh Parsons and Triona McSherry to form an a cappella group called Sí Van. 

Her debut solo album, North, showcases a diverse collection of folk songs from the Ulster singing tradition. The passion for collecting traditional songs is something that has clearly been passed down through generations in the Dillon family. Her songs encompass a wide range of themes and settings, with the central focus being on characters and a good story. 

The resultant performance is fiery and passionate, demonstrating one of the many strands of her vocal capability. Light and shade are created throughout her delivery, alongside emotional and poignant performances on the love songs and the Irish lament, ‘Ard Tí Chuain’. As well as ancient traditional songs, the album includes recent compositions, including her own song, ‘The Boatman’. 

Mary now mainly teaches but we were thrilled when she agreed to come on board and the resulting performance with Martin is nothing short of magical.