Everyone in France knows it, and sings it at the top of their lungs at festive parties and parties! “Les Lacs du Connemara” is a song that ranks among the monuments of French chanson! In Ireland, the song is rather unknown, but it has the merit of speaking of the Irish country, the wild beauty of Connemara, and its soul steeped in history… Here’s a look back at the origins and success of this hymn to Ireland!
Michel Sardou, singing Les Lacs du Connemara on stage – Guy Delsaut – cc
It all began in 1981. At this time, Jacques Revaux was composing music for Michel Sardou. One day, he picks up his synthesizer and realizes it’s defective: the heat has changed the instrument’s tones, making it sound more like bagpipes.
The idea then occurred to Jacques Revaux and Michel Sardou to write a song dedicated not to Ireland… but to Scotland! However, they don’t know much about the country, so they decide to go and get some documentation about it…
In vain! All they find on the spot are leaflets about Ireland… and more specifically the Connemara region. So they take their tourist literature with them, and change their tune: their next song will be dedicated to Ireland, a country they’ve never even visited!
Connemara – © photographmd
After some further research, inspiration seemed to strike. Pierre Delanoë and Michel Sardou began writing the text. To achieve this, they did extensive research into Ireland, its history and culture… and drew their influences from John Ford’s film “The Quiet Man”, set on the Emerald Isle.
The subject was quickly found: the song tells the story of an Irish wedding, against the backdrop of the conflict between the Irish and the English… and of course the incredible beauty of Connemara and its legendary lakes!
The two artists then pepper the song with Irish references for even more authenticity, and add a bagpipe part.
And there are plenty of references! The song evokes the magnificent land of Ireland, with its rugged moors, rainy and windy climate, and deep lakes!
For a more picturesque touch, the artists also evoke Irish towns such as Limerick, Tipperary, Galway and Ballyconneely. They also add a historical dimension, talking about English colonialism, the English military officer Oliver Cromwell responsible for murderous violence against the Irish… And they end up evoking the religious conflicts (between British Protestants and Irish Catholics), the partition of Ireland, and the wars that have forever marked the island, tearing British and Irish apart for centuries.
The song soon came full circle. But it worries Michel Sardou: this one is over 6 minutes long. The singer felt this was too long. But fortunately, Revaux convinced him to release it to the general public.
A sheep on a road in Connemara, Ireland – © Roberto Medeiros
The song “Les lacs du Connemara” was released in 1981 as a single. The success was immediate: the song sold over a million copies in France, and climbed into the top 20 most listened-to tracks.
The song quickly became a benchmark: it is one of Michel Sardou’s best songs. Its text, rhythm and bagpipes guarantee an immediate change of scenery and a trip to Ireland without having to take a plane or ferry.
What’s even more surprising is that the song’s success seems to have never run out of steam! A true monument of French chanson, the song is still played regularly (especially at student parties, weddings and other concerts), and has been covered by other artists.
All in all, “Les lacs du Connemara” has been a resounding success for almost 40 years! An incredible phenomenon, and one that still seems to surprise Michel Sardou himself. He never thought the song would be such a triumph… not in 1981… and not today!
The song has also had an impact on tourism in Ireland. Many French people have decided to fly to Connemara and its exceptional landscapes.
It is estimated that “Connemara Lakes” generated almost 350,000 additional visits to the Irish region. Never before seen! The song helped popularize the Irish destination among French-speaking audiences and raise awareness of Irish culture.
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