✍ BogLord's Blog ✍ NEW!
Thoughts, stories, and musings about The Rattlin' Bog and the world of Irish folk music. Written by yours truly, BogLord2002.
30 March 2003
Plans for the future of The Rattlin' Bog Fan Shrine — new content, a MIDI file, FAQ section, maybe a chat room. The bog abides, and so does this site.
25 March 2003
The definitive ranking of every verse of The Rattlin' Bog, rated from least best to best. Spoiler: the flea gets 11 out of 10. No verse scores below 7.
20 March 2003
A complete beginner's guide to singing The Rattlin' Bog. Learn the chorus, verse order, speed tips, and how to survive the flea verse. Start singing today!
17 March 2003
Happy St Patrick's Day 2003! BogLord2002 reflects on The Rattlin' Bog as part of Irish identity, with plans for the big session at Cruise's pub in Ennis.
14 March 2003
An explanation of YouTube for folk music fans — what it is, how it works, and why it could be revolutionary for preserving Irish traditional music forever.
13 March 2003
The moment BogLord2002 discovered The Rattlin' Bog on YouTube for the first time. A full performance review of the video that changed everything.
23 February 2003
The true story of starting The Rattlin' Bog on a Bus Eireann from Limerick and getting the whole bus singing by Kildare. One of the best days of my life.
16 February 2003
A personal reflection on oral tradition, family memory, and learning The Rattlin' Bog from my grandmother. How Irish folk songs carry generations of love.
9 February 2003
How The Rattlin' Bog became a staple of Irish school music classes — loved by teachers and students, feared by principals. A folk song in education.
28 January 2003
A spirited defence of the flea verse as the greatest moment in The Rattlin' Bog — and possibly the peak of human musical achievement. Chaos meets joy.
12 January 2003
A comprehensive survey of regional variations of The Rattlin' Bog across Ireland, England, and Scotland. Rare bog vs rattlin' bog and different verse orders.
27 December 2002
A recap of the legendary Christmas 2002 trad session at Cruise's pub in Ennis, featuring four rounds of The Rattlin' Bog and an attempted 11th verse.
5 December 2002
Essential trad session etiquette for starting The Rattlin' Bog. When it's right, when it's wrong, and why timing matters at an Irish folk music session.
24 November 2002
The story of teaching my nephew Cian The Rattlin' Bog at Sunday dinner — and the beautiful chaos that followed. An Irish folk song spreads to a new generation.
8 November 2002
Explore the history of cumulative songs in folk music, from The Rattlin' Bog to The Twelve Days of Christmas. How chain songs preserve oral tradition.
20 October 2002
The definitive correct verse order for The Rattlin' Bog Irish folk song: bog, tree, limb, branch, twig, nest, egg, bird, feather, flea. Don't argue.
3 October 2002
A passionate defence of why The Rattlin' Bog is the greatest Irish folk song — and the greatest song — ever written. Cumulative joy at its finest.
15 September 2002
Welcome to the internet's first and only fan shrine dedicated to The Rattlin' Bog, the greatest Irish folk song ever. Built with love by BogLord2002.