School: Béal an Átha Móir (B.)

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   “The following is another ballad on the shooting of Lord Leitrim.”

   

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   V

   ''Spare us our lives'', said Meehan
   ''Brave boy, Rory if you please.''
   ''No, for when you lie with dogs
   You are sure to rise with fleas.''
   The gay boys behind the wall
   Sure, all laughing at the joke,
   Said we'll blow the buggers up
   With our powder, ball and smoke.

   Chorus

   VI

   ''Advance my boys,'' said Rory,
   Take a goodly aim and fire.''
   they took aim right at his brain
   And tumbled him in the mire
   ''Upon my world,'' said Rory,
   It was a splendid crack.
   Can't you see bailiff and driver
   They both hurled back to back.''

   Chorus

   VII

   This old degrading viper,
   Down deep in the mire, did crawl,
   Calling, bawling, cursing God,
   And the boys of Donegal.
   His double-lined skull they broke
   His old carcase they did maul.
   In a pool they threw the fool,
   Away down in Donegal.

   Chorus

   VIII

   They tipped it off right quickly,
   And reached Mullaraghin Bay,
   They stepped into a small boat
   That calmly, at anchor, lay.
   They paddle their own canoe,
   And they got a speedy seal.
   From Shawl in leitrim
   Hurrah, my boys, for Rory,
   And the men that ran the ball !

   Chorus

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Willie Farrell

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim

   Informant

   Tom Creamer

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   55

   Address

   Stradermot, Co. Leitrim