Miriam Ingram Sets 19th Century Irish Poetry to Music for Bring Your Own Hammer

Miriam Ingram has released ‘The Stranger’s Grave’ through Bring Your Own Hammer in association with Dimple Discs. The single forms part of a series pairing musicians with texts by 19th century Irish writers. Bring Your Own Hammer has partnered with the Irish Women’s Writing (1880-1920) Network for this release. The network was founded in 2016 to increase visibility and access to works by Irish women writers from that period.

Title: The Stranger's Grave
Artist: Miriam Ingram
Release Date: 2025-11-28
Genres: Folk, Folk Rock, Psych-folk
Label: Bring Your Own Hammer, Dimple Discs

The source text is a poem by Emily Lawless, published in ‘Atlantic Rhymes and Rhythms’ (1898), later reissued as ‘With the Wild Geese’ (1902). Lawless was born in County Kildare and worked as a poet, novelist and historian. Her poem addresses an unknown drowned man buried in a graveyard on Inishmaan reserved for unbaptised infants. Ingram’s version consists of a vocal performance and musical arrangement.

Ingram’s previous release was the ‘Spells’ EP in 2020. Her third album is scheduled for 2026. She has written for film, theatre and television and has worked in the studio and performed live with other artists.

Bring Your Own Hammer pairs historians with composers to produce song cycles derived from historical sources, with a focus on 19th century Ireland and the Irish diaspora. The project does not operate as a band, group or ensemble. It describes itself as a faction, distinct from 19th century Irish factions that gathered at fairs and markets with sticks and wattles. This version assembles voices and instruments for the purpose of reinterpreting historical material in song form.

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