In 1892, 17 yr-old Annie Moore from Co. Cork was the first ever immigrant to pass through federal immigrant inspection at the Ellis Island station in New York.
The Irish songwriter Brendan Graham wrote a song about her called Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears – where he deals with her imagined emotions on leaving her homeland and starting over in an entirely new place.
I was learning the song recently for a performance this weekend – and I kept coming back to one chord in the song. It happens just before the chorus each time e.g. at 0:51 here as Tommy Fleming sings the word ‘Isle’.
It’s the 1 over 3 and works because the chorus starts on the 4 chord, creating a sense of movement into the chorus.
Kieran's Blog 