Music and Song: Tom Munnelly’s View of Ownership

In the tradition of Irish traditional music, ownership of music is vague and sometimes contested. Tunes are not generally associated with a “composer”, but, if identified with anyone at all, are generally associated with the person most well-known for performing them, or a person identified with a tune, or a particular version thereof. This article will examine some of the songs and performances/singers in the collection of the late Tom Munnelly (1944–2007), collector of the most extensive collection of English-language songs in Ireland and not only an avid collector but also a very talented singer. Of primary concern will be Tom Munnelly’s attitude to song and its ownership, shedding light on a field long contested and much debated. Drawing on Tom Munnelly’s field recordings of specific songs, the article will endeavour to shed fresh light on how traditional music in Ireland is viewed.