The Bonnán Buí

O the Bonnán Buí that neer broke out
In a drinkin bout might as well have drunk
For his bones are thrown on a naked stone
Where he lives all alone like a hermit monk
O a Bonnán Buí I pity your lot
For they say that a sot like myself is cursed
I've been sober a while but I'll drink and be wise
For I fear I might die in the end of thirst

It is not for the common bird that I would mourn
For the blackbird, the corncrake or the crane
But for the Bonnán Buí that's shy and apart
And drinks from the marsh and the lone bog drain
If I had known you were so near your death
While my breath held out I'd have run to you
Till the splash from the Lake of the Son of the Bird
Then your soul would have stirred to a life anew

O my darling she told me to drink no more
Or my life would be over in a little while
But I told her tis the whiskey that gives me health and strength
And lengthens my road by many's the mile
You can see how the bird of the long smooth neck
Could get his death from the thirst at last
O sun of my soul, come fill up your glass
For you'll get no sup when your life is past

Remember Doo Lough

You may hear them speak about Mozambique
And of Africa's famine tide
Of drought and of greed of which few take heed
That have sapped a continent's pride
While millions cry, ten thousands die
And our governments take no stand
Now a tale I'll tell of a similar hell
It happened in our own land

Early spring in black '47
The country was on the rack
Day and night relentless blight
Had consumed the tattie crop
While cattle and grain were exportin to Spain
And food lay piled in store
O in Mayo south and roundabout
The people they perished in scores

Crowds were gathered in Louisburgh
Hoping for some relief
Twas said that the Poor Law guardians
Could end their piteous grief
These gentry fine were meeting to dine
In Delphi ten miles away
Children, women and men four hundred strong
Set out on that fateful day

Crossing the Glenkeen in full flood
Some fell by the riverside
And going along the mountain road
Still more collapsed and died
Exhausted and weak, scarcely able to speak
They thronged into Delphi town
And waited in mass for food or a pass
To enter the workhouse (?)

After his meal of wine and veal
A guardian addressed them all
There was no food here and he greatly feared
No room within workhouse wall
They would have to go, hail, rain or snow
And to their homes go back
Dismayed and afraid, despair in their hearts
They set out upon the track

Like harvest sheaves or autumn leaves
They fell dying along the road
As dark drew in the snow came down
And the night was bitter cold
Going along the cliff the wind was stiff
Driving on the blinding sleet
O hundreds were swept into Doo Lough's depths
A horror beyond belief

Next day the relieving officers
Had a terrible sight in store
With corpses strewn along the road
And littering Doo Lough's shore
Whole families dead for want of being fed
An injustice, a crying shame
A forgotten sign for our own time
When we witness the very same

From the Sudan to Pakistan
Famine victims they wait in need
And a people like ours who have known this curse
Must surely take a lead
Remember that walk O remember Doo Lough
Let your banners be unfurled
Against selfish gain and indifference to pain
And for justice throughout our world

The Reel

A dreadful dream I fain would tell
I thought I died and woke in Hell
And there upon the topmost landing
Some prime Collooney boys were standing
Gazing round I wondered where
Dwelt the scamps from Ballysadare

Musing thus I scanned each face
And from within that dreadful place
Sinners of every nationality
Therein confined for their rascality
My quest was vain, they were not there
The rowdy rakes from Ballysadare

Descending there a winding stair
Through sulfur fumes and horrid glare
I searched around the lower story
Mid grinning fiends and sinners hoary
I saw some sparks from Dromahair
Not one as yet from Ballysadare

A batch of captives lately arrested
The squire Old Nick had the place congested
With proprietary air forthwith drove in
With clanking chains and doleful din
They came from Swinford and Aclare
Not one as yet from Ballysadare

O Nick, quoth I, on every hand
I see your spoils from earth's fair land
No doubt they well deserve their fate
Poor wretches sad and desolate
But might I ask you, is it fair
To quite pass over Ballysadare?

For (?) the worst of reputation
For loafing, poaching and potations
Has it by chance escaped your toils
While venial sins your fire escoils?
Enmeshing others dost thou spare
The blustering blades from Ballysadare?

Ha ha, quoth Nick, with sinister mirth
There's not a place on all the earth
Exempt from my bold operations
Resist who will my machinations
I'll take you lower still and there
You'll see the bucks from Ballysadare

Traversing hot and lurid tunnels
Past myriad smoke and belching funnels
He showed me chain gangs grim and sad
Arriving there from Em(?)
From Skreen, (?) and everywhere
Except elusive Ballysadare

Still down we went to lower regions
Encompassed by perspiring legions
From (?) and (?)
As well as Sligo and Bundoran
Gaunt faces wore a look of worry
Contingents these from Tobercurry

At length we reached a dungeon rude
In Limbo's lowest latitude
And there I saw with apprehension
A saucepan grim of vast dimension
Upon a roaring furnace boiling
While stoking imps around were toiling

With conscious pride Old Nick drew near
The huge utensil in the rear
I gazed with horror oer his shoulder
Despite the heat my blood ran colder
He raised the lid and said, In there
I boil the boys from Ballysadare

In vain betimes I tried cremation
But such a state of saturation
Was theirs with Harp and Guinness drenched
My fiercest fires they always quenched
And so I boil the boys in there
Who sow wild oats in Ballysadare

The Limerick Rake

I am a young fellow that's easy and bold
In Castletown Conners I'm mighty well known
In Newcastle West I spent many a note
With Kitty and Judy and Mary
My father rebuked me for being such a rake
And for spending my time at some frolicsome ways
But I'll never forget the sweet nature of Jane
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé

My parents they reared me to plow and to sow
To rake and to harrow, to reap and to mow
But my heart being so airy to drop it so low
I set out upon high speculation
On paper and parchment they taught me to write
And in Euclid and grammar they opened me eyes
But in multiplication in truth I was wise
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé

If I chance for to go to the town of Adare
The girls around me do flock in the square
One brings me a bottle, another sweet cake
For to treat me unknownst to their parents
There's one from Askeaton and one from the Pike
And another from Ardan me heart has beguiled
Though being from the mountains her stockings were white
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé

Now to quarrel for riches I neer was inclined
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind
I'll purchase a cow that will never run dry
And I'll milk her by twistin her horn
John Damer of Shronel has plenty of gold
Lord Devonshire's treasure is twenty times more
But he's laid on his back amongst nettles and stones
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé

Now this cow she will feed without clover or grass
For she's pampered on barley, good corn and hops
She's warm and she's stout and she's free in her paps
And she'll milk without spancel or halter
And the man who will drink it will (?) his caubeen
And if anyone (?) the green
And the feeble old hag will get supple and free
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé

If I chance for to go to the market in Croom
With the tilt in me hat and me pipes in good tune
I'm welcome at once and brought up to a room
Where Bacchus is sporting with Venus
There's Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree
And Biddy from Bruff and we all on a spree
Such a combing of locks as there is about me
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé

O some say I'm foolish and some say I'm wise
But being fond of the women I think is no crime
For the son of King David had five hundred wives
And his wisdom was highly recorded
I'll till a good garden and live at me ease
And each woman and child will partake of the same
If there's war in the cabin themselves they may blame
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé

And so for the future I mean to be wise
And I'll call all those women who've acted so kind
I'll marry them all on the morrow by and by
If the clergy agrees to the bargain
And when I'm on my back and my soul is at rest
These women will gather to cry at me wake
And their sons and their daughters will offer their prayers
To the Lord for the soul of their father

Fare Thee Well, Lovely Mary

Fare the well, lovely Mary, I'm going to leave you
To the East or West Indies my long course to steer
For although we are parted I'll be true and loyal hearted
And we'll meet again, love, we'll talk of old times

Let not my long absence bring sorrow unto you
Or any strange notion to come into your mind
For although we are parted I'll be true and loyal hearted
And when we meet again, love, we will talk of old times

I'll dress as a sailor and come along with you
In the midst of all dangers by your side I will stand
If there be any breezes or stormy winds blowing
I'll be there at yor side, love, to obey at your command

Your neat little fingers the strong cables cannot handle
Your tiny little feet to the topmast will not go
Your (?) frail body the rough weather can't endure, love
Stay at home, lovely Mary, to the seas do not go

Now the ship she is sailing and Mary sadly wailing
Her red rosy cheeks now are as white as the snow
Her gay golden locks now she's continually tearing
Saying, I'll sigh till I die, love, shall I eer see you more?

Gerry Foley's Boat

O young Gerry Foley went out yesterday
To the inch of Dan Cremin to fill up with hay
He being close to the river he went for a drink
And what did he see there, O what do you think?
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

O a big water dog he was lying near the bank
He sent for a pike for to stick in his flank
The dog when he saw him he took to his heels
To be there you would think twas the devil on wheels
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

Gerry then stopped and he took off his coat
He sent for a hatchet to fix up a boat
He loaded his rifle with a bundle of (?)
And he swore a great oath that he'd give him his death
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

He stepped in that boat and he sailed on the main
And the people who saw him they said twas a shame
They said he'd be drowned for the boat wasn't strong
He was three weeks away and sure that wasn't long
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

He sailed near an island, there blew up a gale
He had to hoist up both his jib and mainsail
The tide it was high and the current was strong
And he climbed up aloft saying, I'll live while I can
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

At Carrigastruca he struck a big rock
It gave such a bump that it gave him a shock
The boards they were rotten and gone to decay
And the transom it fell to the bottom away
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

He then sailed his boat with great judgement and skill
Directing his course by a mound on the hill
He labored both bravely at savin his life
For himself and that woman called Joan who's his wife
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

There was a big vessel came into Kinsale
And the captain he heard of that wonderful tale
He went to see Gerry that same very night
And as soon as he saw him he laughed with delight
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

He offered him silver, he offered him gold
He offered him everything, I am told
He offered him land and a mansion quite free
If only he'd venture come with him to sea
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

But Gerry's a man who is easy and quiet
He looked at the captain and bade him good night
Saying, The last time I sailed in a boat of my own
I was near goin to Hell or to Heaven from Joan
Rally ra fol the da rally rack fol the dee

Now Joan when she heard this she started to swear
She's terribly funny, she's awfully quare
O she finished in Irish, Tá (?) ar an scéal
Is (?) is t'anam ó'n diabhal

The Bansha Peeler (The Peeler and the Goat)

A Bansha Peeler went out one night on duty a-patrollin o
And he met a goat upon the road and took him for a stroller o
With bayonet fixed he sallied forth and caught her by the wizzen o
And then swore out a mighty oath he'd send her off to prison o

O mercy, Sir, the goat replied, pray let me tell you me story o
I am no rogue, no ribbonman, no croppy, Whig or Tory o
I'm guilty not of any crime, of petty or high treason o
For I'm badly wantin at this time for this is the milkin season o

It is in vain for to complain or give your tongue such bridle o
You're absent from your dwellingplace, disorderly and idle o
Your hoary locks will not prevail nor your sublime oration o
You'll be transported by Peel's Act upon my information o

No penal laws did I transgress by deed or combination o
I have no certain place of rest, no home or habitation o
But Bansha is my dwellingplace where I was bred and born o
Descended from an honest race that's all of the trade I've learned o

I will chastise your insolence and violent behavior o
Well bound to Cashel you'll be sent where you will gain no favor o
The magistrates will all consent to sign your condemnation o
From there to Cork you will be sent for speedy transportation o

This parish and this neighborhood are peaceable and tranquil o
There's no disturbance here, thank God, and long may it continue so
I don't regard your oath a pin or sign for my committal o
My jury will be gentlemen and grant me my acquittal o

The consequence be what it will a peeler's power I'll let you know
I'll handcuff you at all events and march you down to Bridewell o
And there you rogue you can't deny before the judge and jury o
Intimidation with your horns and threatenin me with fury o

I make no doubt but you are drunk with whiskey, rum or brandy o
Or you wouldn't have such gallant spunk to be so bold and manly o
You readily would let me pass if I had the money handy o
To treat you to a poteen glass--tis then I'd be the dandy o

Mick Sullivan's Mad Clock

O this clock of Mick Sullivan's down in the bog
It gave up keepin time when he started at grog
It got into the habit of drinkin strong wine
And it often struck eight when it should have struck nine
Rally &c.

Well it often struck nine when it only was eight
And it struck twelve times when it wasn't so late
It often broke out in the middle of the night
And kept hammering away till the clear morning light
Rally &c.

Well it went to the devil, Mickeen took it down
And he hitched up the pony to take into town
He wanted it fixed by a man from Tralee
But that very same day he was out on the spree
Rally &c.

He then got it fixed by a smith in Pound Lane
And takin it home sure the clock went insane
It struck everyone on the road that it met
And I'm told that it struck Michel Arthur to death
Rally &c.

When Mick got the clock back he stood it up straight
And he oiled up the spring so the hammer would beat
He dusted it out and adjusted the gongs
And he tightened the screws with the paws of the tongs
Rally &c.

He then hung it up on a sixpenny nail
And then got a weapon they call it a flail
(?) to stop him he told me watch out
And he told me he'd break it without any doubt
Rally &c.

He then sent for Paddy and told him to run
For to go and get Gerry and bring down the gun
Gerry came down and he opened it out
And he said that it got too much knocking about
Rally &c.

So it stopped one fine day in the month of July
And those that saw it they couldn't say why
From the nail on the wall sure it suddenly hopped
To the flag, to the fire, and twas there then it stopped
Rally &c.

He opened the door and he shouted aloud
For to gather the neighbors or some sort of crowd
And them that had weapons bring arms and sticks
And them that hadn't could break it with kicks
Rally &c.

So they all set about it with big sticks and clubs
All the houses were empty and so were the pubs
Roaring and shouting with big stick and rock
And they soon put an end to Mick Sullivan's mad clock
Rally &c.

(Gaelic Song of '98)

(Gaelic verses)

Come rise in your might O best of men
And muster your pikes in yonder glen
Your enemy smite with sword and lance
And no laws will you own but those of France

And O (?), what ails thee now?
O (?), in two years or three
You¼ll have land without rent to graze your cow on
And O (?), what ails you now?

Pretty Molly Brannigan

Ah then man dear did you ever hear of pretty Molly Brannigan?
Troth dear I've gone and lost her and I'll never be a man again
Not a spot on my side will my summer sun eer tan again
Since Molly gone and left me all alone for to die

The place where my heart is you will easy roll a turnip in
It's the size of all Dublin and from Dublin to the Devil's Glen
If she chose to take another sure she might have sent mine back again
And not to leave me here all alone for to die

Man dear I remember when the milkin time was past and gone
We went into the meadows where she swore I was the only one
That ever she could love O yet the base and cruel one
After all that to leave me here alone for to die

Man dear I remember when we came home the rain began
I rolled her in my frieze coat though the devil a waistcoat had I on
And my shirt was rather finedrawn yet O the base and cruel one
After all that she left me here alone for to die

I went and told me tale to Father (?) Donell man
And then I went and asked advice of Counsellor O'Connell man
He told me promise breaches had been ever since the world began
And now I have only one pair left and they are corduroy

Arrah what could he mean or what would you advise me to?
Must my corduroy go to Molly too? In troth I'm bothered what to do
I can't afford to lose my heart and my own breeches too
Yet what need care I for I'm only for to die

O the left side of my carcass is as weak as water gruel man
The devil a bit upon me bones since Molly proved so cruel man
I wish I had a blundergun, I'd go and fight a Jew man
Sure it's better far to kill myself than stay here to die

I'm hot and determined as a live salamander man
Won't you go to me wake when I take the long meander man
And I'll feel myself as valiant as the famous Alexander man
When I hear yas all cryin, Arrah why did ye die?

Seán a Duír a'Ghleanna

After Aughrim's great disaster when our foe in truth was master
It was you first jumped in and swam the Shannon's boiling surf
And through Slieve Bloom's great passes you led our gallowglasses
Although the hungry Saxon wolves were howling for your blood
And as we crossed Tipperary we arrived at Clan O'Leary
And drove the creacht before us as our horsemen onward sped
With our spears and swords we gored them, through flood and light we drove them
Ah but Seán a Duír a'Ghleanna we were worsted in the game

Long long we kept the hillside, our (?) by the rillside
The sturdy oaken knotted boughs our curtain overhead
The summer days we laughed at, the winter snow we scoffed at
And trusted in our sharpened swords to win us daily bread
But the Dutchman's troops came round us, in fire and ball they bound us
And they blazed the woods and valleys till the very sky was flame
But our long sharp swords cut through them, in their very hearts we hewed them
Ah but Seán a Duír a'Ghleanna we were worsted in the game

Here's a health to yours and my king, the sovereign to our liking
And to (?) underneath whose flag once more we'll take a chance
For the morningtide will find us across the sea and win us
A place to stand and wield a brand among the sons of France
And as we part in sorrow, yet Seán a Duír a chara
Our hope is God save Ireland, pour blessings on her name
May her sons be true and needed, may they never fail as we did
Ah for Seán a Duír a'Ghleanna we were worsted in the game

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