NYC bar bans singing of 'Danny Boy'

The traditional ballad Danny Boy is not known for being controversial, but this St Patrick's day a New York bar has decided to ban it while a Michigan cafe will sing it 1000 times.

It is depressing, it is not usually sung in Ireland for St Patrick's Day, and its lyrics were written by an Englishman who never set foot on Irish soil.

Those are only some of the reasons why a Manhattan pub owner is banning the song 'Danny Boy' for the entire month of March.
The ban has been implemented by Shaun Clancy, who owns Foley's Pub and Restaurant, across the street from the Empire State Building.

The 38-year-old Mr Clancy, who started bartending when he was 12 years old at his father's pub in Co Cavan promised a free Guinness to patrons who sing any other traditional Irish song at the pub's pre-St Patrick's Day karaoke party on Tuesday.

But a bar owner in Michigan is taking a different approach. AJ O'Neill, who owns AJ's Cafe, is getting his patrons to perform 1000 renditions of 'Danny Boy'.

Mr O'Neill says it will take from three days to complete the task if each rendition were to last three minutes.

He has lined up some 600 participants so far including soloists, duos and choral groups.

The lyrics for 'Danny Boy,' published in 1913, were written by English lawyer Frederick Edward Weatherly, who never even visited Ireland, according to the book 'Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad.'

'Danny Boy' was recorded by Bing Crosby in the 1940s, served as the theme song of television's 'Danny Thomas Show' from 1953 to 1964. It was also recorded by Frank Patterson for his album 'Ireland in Song'.

It has been performed by singers ranging from Judy Garland and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.