The Celtic Goodbye

The Parting Glass

The Irish ballad about death is one of the most beautiful pieces of Celtic music. Covered by multiple artists (Ed Sheeran for example) and sang to two different melodies, the ballad can be a tune of sorrow or an upbeat melody perfect for Irish dancing to. 

A Ballad of Death

"So fill to me the parting glass,

Goodnight and joy be to you all"

These words resonate deeply as the Celtic voices harmonize and the flute flutters in the background. It is a truly beautiful song. 

The Honorable Dance

I danced to an upbeat pride-filled version of The Parting Glass three years ago as a finale in my last dance show. It was an experience like no other. 

I stepped out on stage for our usual finale dance number and danced through the motions I knew so well as the fiddles carried my feet to the fast paced melody. We bowed with our right foot pointed as we always did but this time something felt different. 

The seniors were in the front row with tears in our eyes as we knew this was the end of an era and we were parting with each other before heading off to college. Then... something changed. A man stepped out on stage with a guitar in his hand and he was joined by a fiddler and a flutist. He sang a cappella into the microphone the opening lines of The Parting Glass and my heart sank. 

"Of all the money that 'er I've had

I spent it in good company..."

I knew these words too well as I had choreographed and taught a whole dance number to this song and as a final goodbye, my dance coach surprised me with the honor of having everyone dance to my masterpiece. Right on cue, 20 dancers stomped their hard shoes as they followed their feet across the stage. I joined them and in unison we danced, filling our own parting glasses.