New ‘Danny Boy’ revelations uncovered by family research

By The Newsroom
Published 12th Jun 2013, 14:55 BST
In Sunshine and in Shadow: The Family Story of Danny Boy, by Anthony MannIn Sunshine and in Shadow: The Family Story of Danny Boy, by Anthony Mann
In Sunshine and in Shadow: The Family Story of Danny Boy, by Anthony Mann
The world famous song Danny Boy, set to the tune of the ‘Londonderry Air’, caused a major rift in the author’s family, according to the great-grandson of the man who penned it.

While 72-year-old Anthony Mann knew he was part of the songwriter Fred Weatherly’s family, he knew little about him and relatives’ lives 100 years ago when the song first appeared. After he began researching their lives, he uncovered a startling revelation hidden in archives unseen since 1936.

The English lawyer Fred Weatherly wrote the lyrics in 1910 he struggled to find the right melody for the song. Now, Mann believes the information he has uncovered shows that Weatherly’s sister-in-law finally introduced him to the tune he was looking for, but never gained the recognition she deserved and went on to die in poverty while Weatherly enjoyed fame and success.

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