| The Loobeens found in Bunting's collection, three of which are published on this website, are some of the only Irish examples of the song form known in Scotland as 'Waulking Songs'. They were typically sung according to Bunting (1840) 'at merry-makings and assemblages of the young women, when they meet at "spinnings" or "quiltings", and are accompanied by extemporaneous verses, of which each singer successively furnishes a line'. Although no song texts are given here, the songs featured a chorus or key word, again much like the waulking tradition in Scotland. |
