'We really have Percy in our hearts' - Leitrim Percy French Society's new album launches this May
'Remember me is all I ask', a new album from the Leitrim Percy French Society is to be launched on Friday, 1 May 2026 at The Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.
'Remember me is all I ask', a new album from the Leitrim Percy French Society is to be launched on Friday, 1 May 2026 at The Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.
Musical director, Tish said that the album is all about celebrating the life, works and genius of Percy and is a culmination of all the work that the society has done so far since starting in 2010. The title of the album comes from a little poem Percy wrote when he signed the visitors book in Glenveigh Castle, Donegal and is also inscribed on his grave in Formby, Lancashire, England.
Frank Cadam who plays the part of Percy French in their performances always finishes their shows with that poem ‘Remember me is all I ask, but if the remembrance be a task, forget!’
“He has been part of my life, all of my life. As a child, I enjoyed listening to my Uncle Dermott performing the songs ‘Drumcolligher’ and the ‘Westclare Railway’ with great gusto along with many other pieces. Dermott played the role of Percy French at a centenary celebration of the birth of Percy in 1954 in Clooneyquinn House, near Tulsk, Roscommon where Percy was born.". Percy’s two daughters Ettie and Joan attended that event and Dermott remained in contact with them until their deaths.
Tish laughed: "As a teenager, my friends would be listening to popular bands at the time like the Bay City Rollers and I would be learning the words of Percy French. I was always passionate about his works, and I am very lucky that the members in the group love him as much as I do.
What makes the group unique is that we really have Percy in our hearts, and everyone uses their storytelling skills to bring his witty lyrics to life. Audiences can picture exactly what the songs and recitations are about.
Frank Cadam’s first stage interpretation of Percy French brings their audiences back in time and the audience are so convinced they are in the presence of the great man himself, they queue up for selfies after their shows!
Though born in Co. Roscommon, Percy had a great connection with Co. Leitrim. His maternal grandfather, the Rev. W. A. Percy was born in Garadice near Ballinamore and served as the Church of Ireland rector of Kiltoghert which incorporated the parishes of Carrick On Shannon, Mohill, Kiltoghert. His Mother Susan was born in Carrick On Shannon.
Tish would like to see Percy French getting more recognition in Ireland and should be celebrated more like Yeats or Joyce. He was well recognised internationally and often performed for the then Prince of Wales when he was hosting events. He also toured the Americas, the West Indies, Canada and many European countries. He was a prolific songwriter and also an internationally recognised watercolourist. Some of his paintings have been sold for record prices lately. Percy, like John B Keane was a great observer of Irish life and society and he is a very important part of our heritage’. His works deal with the traditions of that time such as matchmaking, bartering, the dowry and the rambling houses. The genius of Percy is that he could capture a story in a 3-minute work. Mc Breen’s Heifer for example, deals with matchmaking and the practice of giving a dowry – in this case, McBreen was giving a heifer with one of his daughters to make her more attractive to her prospective husband.!
His inspiration for his recitation 'If I Was a Lady', came from listening to the typical Dublin women discussing what it would be like to be a lady.
Tish, Frank and the group still laugh at lines they have heard hundreds of times and get something new and different out of every piece every time they perform them.
People may not associate a lot of the well-known songs/recitations with the composer Percy French even though many of his works continue to be performed. For example, many people know the ‘Mountains of Mourne’, ‘Come back Paddy Reilly’ or the ‘Darlin’ girl from Clare’ yet they may not know they were written by Percy French. This is another indication of how underpromoted the great genius Percy French is.
Percy French died in 1920 when he was touring Scotland and is buried in Formby, Lancashire, England.