The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #75886   Message #1338498
Posted By: Joe Offer
25-Nov-04 - 01:59 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Master McGrath
Subject: RE: Origins to: Master McGrath
Of course, it certainly would be worthwhile to explore the song right here at Mudcat. Here's the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index:

Master McGrath

DESCRIPTION: The great Irish greyhound wins the Waterloo Cup, beating Rose, "the pride of all England." (The two dogs discuss their respective countries. The owners bet large sums. The Irish celebrate the fact that their dog was better than an English dog.)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1926 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: racing dog gambling
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1868, 1869, 1871 - Years in which Master McGrath, a hound belonging to Lord Lurgan, won the Waterloo Cup
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (6 citations):
SHenry H161c, pp. 32-33, "A Ballad of Master M'Gra[th]" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hodgart, p. 215, "A ballad of Master McGrath" (1 text)
OLochlainn 33, "Master McGrath" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hayward-Ulster, pp. 61-62, "A Ballad of Master McGrath" (1 text)
DT, MASMCGR*
Richard Hayward, Ireland Calling (Glasgow,n.d.), p. 16, "The Ballad of Master McGrath" (text, music and reference to Decca F-2604 recorded Oct 4, 1931)
Roud #3041
Notes: The date and master id (GB-3359) for Hayward's record is provided by Bill Dean-Myatt, MPhil. compiler of the Scottish National Discography. - BS
File: Hodg215

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2007 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Here's the entry from folktrax.org (which is admittedly hard to understand):