Leitrim Larks – Samhain Songs

Two free November workshops in Drumshanbo Library celebrating Leitrim’s traditional song and seasonal lore. Facilitated by Fionnuala Maxwell, part of Happy as Larks, supported by Leitrim County Council and Creative Ireland. All voices 14+ welcome.

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Workshop Photo

Event Poster

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Full Lyrics & Notes

Below are the full lyrics from our Samhain Songs workshops, alongside short contextual notes. A downloadable, print-friendly booklet is available at the end.

The Fairy Child — lament ballad with fairy lore

As sung by Aughavas native Nan Fitzpatrick Gaffney – an ancient song of unknown origin

A mother came while stars were paling, wailing round a lonely spring,
Thus she cried, as tears were falling, calling on the fairy king.
Who would spoil a mother’s treasure, courting him with fairy joy?
Why destroy a mother’s blessing? Why for steal my baby boy?

O’er the mountains, through the wild wood, where in childhood he longed to play
Where the flowers are freshly springing, there I wander day by day.
There I wander, growing fonder of the child that made my joy
And the echoes while recalling — please restore my baby boy.

But in vain my plaintive calling; tears are falling all in vain
He now sports with fairy treasure — he’s the pleasure of their train.
So fare thee well, my child forever! In this world I’ve lost my joy
In the next we ne’er shall sever! There I’ll find my baby boy.

Here We Are — playful singalong with chorus

Here we are amongst each other,
And we’re here because we’re here!
We’re all one year older than
We were this time last year – i-ya.

CHORUS:

Didden too – rih – ah
Didden too – rih – ah
Didden too – rih – oor – i – ay
Fol de ah didden too – rih – ah
Didden too – rih – oor – i – ay – rih – ah

The more a man has, the more a man wants —
Now this I don’t think true
For I never met a man with one black eye
Who wished that he had two – rih – ya.

CHORUS

Early to bed makes a man wise —
Now this I don’t think true
For how in the hell can a man go to bed
If he’s got none to go to – ri – ya.

CHORUS

Never throw a brick to a drowning man
If you’re close to a grocer’s store,
Throw him a bar of sunlight soap —
Let him wash himself ashore – i – ya.

CHORUS

Well I think I’ve said enough so I’ll say no more,
And before you show me the door,
I’ll bow my head and I’ll say goodnight,
And I won’t come back no more – i – ya.

CHORUS

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Leitrim’s Land So Fair — local emigration-song

Leitrim is well supplied with emigration songs – this one is from an unkown source

’Tis glad I am this day to stand on Leitrim’s land so fair
Too long I’ve stayed, too long I’ve strayed, in that cold land over there
’Tis many a grey and dreary day I’ve laboured for my share,
But now I stand and wave my hand to Leitrim’s land so fair.

To Carrick wide, by the Shannon side, I’ll merrily make my way
In Mohill town, I will kneel down and in its church I’ll pray,
I’ll pray to God for each dear lad who never did despair,
That he would see old Ireland free in Leitrim’s land so fair.

In Fenagh’s dell, where Crom Cruach fell before Saint Patrick’s wrath,
I’ll sit and think and take a drink from that well by the path,
I’ll think of Fionn and his trusted men who often did prepare,
To rout a foe long, long ago in Leitrim’s land so fair.

By Allen’s lake, my way I’ll make and view the country round,
Drumshanbo too, I’ll call and view and listen for the sound
Of jig and reel to make me feel at home so free of care,
And it’s there I’ll say ‘tis here I’ll stay in Leitrim’s land so fair.

My road was right, my load was light, my heart no longer sore,
I carried on, I sang a song till I came to Ballinamore,
The streets I knew, the stranger’s few, the breeze was rich and rare,
No foe I’ll make, no pledge I’ll break in Leitrim’s land so fair.

Each hill and glen, each marsh and fen, each rushy field I know,
They call to me, come on be free! Throw off that load of woe,
The day is long, come sing a song, like that lark in the air,
Come bade our life, be free of strife in Leitrim’s land so fair.

Drumkeeran Land League Song — 1880s Land War ballad
The Land War years of the late 1800s inspired many ballad writers – this one came from the pen on travelling ballad maker, Nicholas McCarthy

Attend you gallant Leitrim men to those verses here penned down
Concerning that great meeting held in Drumkeeran town.

It was a great and grand display, there was full ten thousand there
And new Dr. Maguire, he presided in the chair.

Who the town was represented with, of that I’ll tell you soon.
They came from Carrick on Shannon with Mohill too and Cloone.

With Drumsna too and Jamestown that is always to the fore.
And likewise Brave O’Byrne with the town of Ballinamore.

There was brave James McMorrow from the town of Drumshanbo.
Drumreilly to Kiltubrid and Leitrim town also.

Manorhamilton and Kilty, the pride of Erin’s shore.
And they all did flock from around Kinlough with Dowra and Kilmore.

Bold Davitt and brave Sexton were that day upon the stand.
The speakers spoke up manly for the rights of Ireland,

And they spoke about the members, there is not the slightest doubt,
But at the next Election they will certainly go out.

Especially brave Tottenham we will give him time enough.
For to watch round Kiltyclogher how his tenants cut the turf.

And sure you all know well that it’s not very long ago,
Since he sent 28 to Carrick jail for seven days you know.

And success attend you Leitrim, may you prosper, thrive and win.
And likewise brave Drumkeeran town and all that live therein.

And long life to noble Davitt and brave Sexton who spoke there.
And to the Reverend McGuire who did nobly fill the chair.

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Credits: Leitrim Larks is a community singing initiative led by Fionnuala Maxwell. Supported by Leitrim County Council & Creative Ireland. With thanks to Leitrim Library (Drumshanbo).

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Part Two – More Samhain Songs from the Workshops

In our second evening we moved deeper into Leitrim’s song tradition with four more pieces – local place songs, political ballads and community favourites – all included on the Samhain Songs Leitrim Larks playlist.

Effernagh’s Grand Stand – Michael J. Gralton (Leitrim Observer, 1904)

Context: A nostalgic local song recalling gatherings, games and summer evenings around Effernagh’s grandstand – a celebration of place and community.

I am a rambling hero, that’s always in good cheer
For pleasure and enjoyment, I’ve wandered far and near
I’ve been in many places where amusement it was grand
But the only place I did adore was Effernagh’s Grand Stand.

Ah well do I remember the days that are gone by
When I was young and airy, my spirits they were high
It was then I spent some happy times with all my comrades grand
In mirth and play, both night and day, round Effernagh’s Grand Stand.

The old folks they would gather round, although they’re aged and grey
And when they meet their boyhood friends, their hearts grow light and gay
They try then to amuse themselves in every way they can
As they all sit round the flowery banks of Effernagh’s Grand Stand.

And in the dear old summer time, when everything looks bright
The fair young maidens tripping round would make your heart delight
You cannot help but gaze on them as they wander hand in hand
Around the flowery, mossy banks of Effernagh’s Grand Stand.

So now I think I will conclude, for my heart with grief is stung
Thinking of that dear old spot that enjoys both old and young
Though I am many miles away, out in a foreign land
My thoughts do often wander back to Effernagh’s Grand Stand.

It’s not because it is my place of birth I praise it so
It was honoured and respected in the days of long ago
It’s the only place in Connacht wide that nature does command.
So God be with my comrades dear and Effernagh’s Grand Stand.

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The Lovely Bush Hotel – Bernard Gray (1902)

Context: A song in praise of the Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, written by Mohill poet, Bernard Gray. See more on Bernard Gray

Through foreign climes I’ve wandered and I’ve seen some princely domes,
In Belfast and in Dublin fair there are some splendid homes;
But in countries grand or cities great no building can excel
That mansion grand in Carrick town, the lovely Bush Hotel.

In the centre of the town it stands, beside the Chapel high,
Where pious people pray to him, who rules the earth and sky;
And we daily hear in tones so clear the voice of the Chapel bell,
Which sounds so sweet as music through the lovely Bush Hotel.

At the other side the Shannon flows, and boats move to and fro,
And many are the flowers fine along its banks that grow;
And Leitrim men bright honours won, where pigeons often fell
In that green field connected with the lovely Bush Hotel.

Some noble lords, some travellers grand, and pleasure-seekers gay,
A visit to this lovely place do very often pay;
’Tis as fair a place as you can see, ’tis a beauteous spot to dwell,
’Tis a credit to green Erin’s Isle, the lovely Bush Hotel.

At the famous Bush fair Beauty’s hand adorns every scene,
Those trees that grow beside the halls, those lovely bushes green,
Bring visions to the dreamer’s mind, and help poor bards to tell
The story of this charming dome, the lovely Bush Hotel.

I’ve seen that lovely Bush, from which this building takes its name,
It grew so grand beside the door as the place grew up in fame;
One clear, bright day it was cut away, but then it never fell,
For its name and fame will always live in the lovely Bush Hotel.

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The Fighting Fair of Manorhamilton

Context: A song about hardship, protest and politics around a July fair in Manorhamilton.

“This fair took place somewhere around the year 1869. The date was July 12th and since a ballad singer was responsible for having the date of the fair changed to the first of that month, no fair has been held in Manorhamilton, (since), on the twelfth.
It happened like this. Towards mid-day when the people were moving away from the fair-green and were assembling in the town a ballad singer began to sing loudly. This was his song…

Come all ye good people, draw near me,
The truth I would wish to lay down,
The distress of our poor Irish nation,
Our hardships in country and town.

Our pigs we must sell them for nothing,
Our rents we’re not able to pay
Our throats for tobacco are calling,
Since the Union was first brought away.

“Oh what do you mean by the Union?”
Then Susey to Darby did say,
“I mean that our gold and our silver,
These robbers have taken away.”

They left us without shoe or stocking,
A coat on our backs we can’t wear,
To keep up those big-bellied preachers,
Who charged us for wearing our hair.

The twelfth of July is all over,
The lilies and orange are shunned
You will see no more assembling or walking
Or none of the Brunswicker’s fund.

Remember though what you will see now,
And all this shall too come to pass
The very next walk you will see of the orange
And them all dressed in green going to Mass.

At that point in the song the singer was attacked by an orangeman who tore the ballads to bits. A general row between Catholics and Orangemen ensued. Thomas Follis was the Orange leader and he led his party with sword in hand and wearing only shirt and trousers. He was a trained yeoman and he intended to strike terror into the hearts of the Catholics. Early in the fight he was covered with blood and before the battle ended he was nearly killed. Paddy McLoughlin known as “Paddy the Bog” was having a drink when the fight started. He was a native of Killasnett parish and was considered the best man for miles around. He rushed out and met Follis on the bride at the Courthouse and knocked him twenty yards. He took possession of the sword and it is said to be in the McLoughlin family yet. During the fight firearms, sticks and stones were used. Two men were shot, one fatally. At nightfall the orangemen were badly beaten. From then the minority were subject to the majority.”

Dúchas Folklore Collection – Martin Devaney, The Glebe, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim

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The Boys of Ballinagleragh

Context: A proud song of Ballinaglera / Ballinagleragh, its hills and “plucky boys”, touching on evictions, resistance and love of place – written by local poet, Myles McTigue of Drumristan.

The Boys of Ballinaglera
Forgotten land, Old Ireland go search it round and square-o
The most forgotten spot you’ll find is poor old Ballinaglera.
Ah! But where is the spot more friendly found or where are the boys that are braver?
Their names alone made the tyrants groan that tried for to enslave her.

CHORUS
Come clink your glass, each lad and lass and drink this toast with care-o
God bless those boys, those darling boys, the boys of Ballinagleragh.

My life on you, my plucky boys your banner never changes.
St. Patrick loves and St. Patrick leads and our clergy can arrange us.
On eviction days when our hills and braes were covered with Red Army
Her gallant sons soon made them run with the tip of shillelagh blarney.

CHORUS

Green be her hills and mountain homes, few with her could compare-o
When twenty-two on the plank beds lay of the Boys of Ballinaglera.
Her green and gold we will unfold and we will not despair-o
But we’ll live to love and die to save the Hills of Ballinagleragh.

CHORUS

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Download the full Samhain Songs lyrics booklet (PDF)