| High Kings of Tara | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Compilation album (Sampler) | |
| Released | 1980 |
| Genre | Irish folk music |
| Label | Tara Music TARA 3003 |
| Producer | Various |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
High Kings of Tara is a compilation album from Tara Music, showcasing tracks previously released by some of its artists: Shaun Davey, Oisín, Jolyon Jackson, Paddy Glackin, Paddy Keenan, Stockton's Wing and Christy Moore.[2]
This album also included five previously unreleased tracks by Planxty, Moore and Andy Irvine. Two of these, Irvine's "The Bonny Light Horseman"[3]: 50–51 and a set of reels by Planxty, "Lord McDonald/The Chattering Magpie", were added later on to the CD version of After The Break.[4]
The remaining three tracks were:[2]
- "General Monroe",[3]: 53–55 a traditional song re-arranged by Irvine in duet with Dónal Lunny, about Henry Munro who led the insurgents of County Down in the 1798 rebellion and who, defeated at the battle of Ballynahinch on 13 June of that year, was hanged in front of his house three days later.
- This song was never re-released on CD.
- "First Slip/Hardyman The Fiddler A&B/The Yellow Wattle", a set of jigs by Planxty, including Matt Molloy; this was never re-released either.
- "John of Dreams", a ballad by Moore, which was later re-released on the CD version of The Iron Behind the Velvet under the slightly different title of "John O'Dreams".
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ a b Sleeve notes from The High Kings of Tara, Tara Records TARA 3003, 1980.
- ^ a b Irvine, Andy (1988). Aiming for the Heart. Germany: Heupferd Musik Verlag GmbH. ISBN 39-2344-501-6.
- ^ Planxty – After The Break CD, Tara Records Ltd, TARACD 3001, 1992.