Origins: The Lurgan Hare

Subject: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: GUEST,WireHarp
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 08:45 PM

Greetings all,

I was wondering if anyone had any information about the origins of
the song " The Lurgan Hare". My gut is telling me it may be about more than the hunting of said bunny, chasing him o'er the hills and all.
Does some kind soul know it's age, or subtext if there is one?
Any help appreciated, and many thanks in advance.

Spring is coming...huzza

Robert Mouland
www.wireharp.com

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 12:47 AM

I can't find anything about it, Robert. Can you post the lyrics you have? Maybe somebody knows it by another name. It's not a variant of the Creggan White Hare, is it?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: GUEST,WireHarp
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 03:23 PM

Joe, I heard Barry Kerr do it on the Armagh Piper's Club Anniversary CD
(which is a fantastic collection). You can hear it here:
http://www.myspace.com/barrykerrmusic
Thanks

Robert Mouland
www.wireharp.com

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: akenaton
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 04:30 PM

I think the song is also known as the "granemore hare" or "hills of Greenmore"
Al O'Donnell does a typically great version at the end of this old Ryan's Fancy video.
Here

Also have a listen to Al singing "Streets of Derry".....Brilliant!

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 05:43 PM

akenaton

Had a listen to and enjoyed Barry Kerr's song - but it's not The Granemore Hare.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 06:13 PM

I'd agree, Martin - now, can somebody transcribe and post "Lurgan Hare"?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 01:16 AM

anybody?
I can't understand enough to attempt a transcription.
The recording is here: http://www.myspace.com/barrykerrmusic.

Please?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: machree01
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 09:26 AM

Hi Joe this is the best i could, it's from Barry Kerr singing the song on his site, some words might be wrong, i wrote it down the way i heard it.

Arise young men and follow me, where bound for the walk in the North Country,
We'll rise the hare every hillside and glen, and arise arise brave Armagh men.

The search began at the break of dawn, with or dogs by or side we'll cut through the thorn,
Crossed on or feet, we'll hunt the hare again, arise arise brave Armagh men.

The hare witch I speak we have hunted before, from Lurgan Town to Lough Neagh shore,
It'll Tire any dog and ask for more, arise arise brave Armagh men.

We'll count on or prey down in kinnego, and talk like a hawk, with or dogs in toe
One by one it tired and pain, arise arise brave Armagh men.

Since I was a boy I have saw him run, I chased him up and down,
For sport and fun, I'll hunt him again before I'm done, arise arise brave Armagh men.

You may travel around this country fair, from north Donegal to western Clare,
The likes of him you won't find their, you'll nor see the like of the Lurgan hare

Arise young men and follow me, where bound for the walk in the north country,
We'll rise the hare every hillside and glen, arise arise brave Armagh men.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 04:04 PM

Careful reading (not easy because the print is white on a deep yellow) of the notes on the CD casing makes it clear that the song is not traditional, except insofar as its author, Barry Kerr, is (clearly) very familiar with traditional song form.
I don't think it has any meaning apart from the obvious - others before now have seen 'hidden' meanings in hare hunting songs but they are common in the north of Ireland and none of the many that I know have any hint of any allegorical content.

Subject: ADD: The Lurgan Hare (Barry Kerr)
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 02:38 PM

This is what I hear (but see my notes * and ^) on the Armagh Pipers' CD.

THE LURGAN HARE
(Written and sung by Barry Kerr)

Arise young men and follow me,
We're bound for to walk* in the North Country,
We'll rise the hare every hillside and glen,
Rise arise brave Armagh men.

The search began at the break of dawn,
With our dogs by our side we cut through the thorn,
Crossed on our feet, we'll hunt the hare again,
Arise arise brave Armagh men.

The hare which I speak we have hunted before,
From Lurgan Town to Lough Neagh shore,
You'd^ tire any dog and then ask for more,
Arise arise brave Armagh men.

We'll count on our prey down at Kinnego,
To talk like a hawk, with our dogs in tow
One by one it tired and pain, -
Arise arise brave Armagh men.

Since I was a boy I have saw him run,
I chased him up and down for sport and fun,
I'll hunt him again before I'm done,
Arise arise brave Armagh men.

You may travel around this country fair,
From north Donegal to western Clare,
The likes of him you won't find there,
You'll ne'er see the likes of a Lurgan hare

Arise young men and follow me,
We're bound for to walk in the north country,
We'll rise the hare every hillside and glen,
Arise arise brave Armagh men.

* 'walk' is given because it's clear in the last verse.
^ I'm not totally sure of this but it makes the best sense of what I hear.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: GUEST,WireHarp
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 03:02 PM

Thanks to all and especially Mr. Moulden, I didn't have access to
the liner notes.Great song.

Robert Mouland
www.wireharp.com

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 03:04 PM

Thanks, John.

"S/he'd tire any dog.." might make more sense?

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 08:48 AM

You're quite right, Martin, it's what I'd be inclined to sing but it's certainly not what Barry Kerr sings. What are your thoughts on better sense for verse 4 line 3?
Robert, you might think of contacting Barry through his myspace page - nothing like going to the horse itself.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 09:09 AM

Having listened a few times, this is what I make of verses 2, 3 and 4 :

The search began at the break of dawn,
With our dogs by our sides we cut through the thorn,
Frost on our feet, we'll hunt the hare again,
Arise arise brave Armagh men.


The hare 'f which I speak we have hunted before,
From Lurgan Town to Lough Neagh shore,
He'd tire any dog and then ask for more,
Arise arise brave Armagh men.

We encountered our prey down at Kinnego,
Took off like a hawk, with our dogs in tow
One by one it tired in (?) pain, -
Arise arise brave Armagh men.

Good song. Hints of the Lowlands of Holland and one of the horseracing songs (Skewball?) in the tune?

Regards

p.s. Yeah - I reckon "tired in pain" (referring to the dogs) is the sense of that second last line.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 09:13 AM

Incidentally, while out on a birdwatching run last week at a lake in North Galway, I saw about 40 hares apparently sunbathing in a field! Not a dog in sight, fortunately...

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: GUEST,mayomick
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 12:38 PM

I saw this piece on indymedia Ireland recently. It was written by somebody calling himself The Hare in response to an anti-coursing article on the site. I find it interesting the way the writer identifies with the hare just as the writers of the old ballads did.

"We the Hares of Northern Ireland want the ban on hare coursing in the North over turned.
Most of my friends are now dead since the ban was introduced, the misguided who lobbied for the ban have hastened our demise.
We were once a thriving population but since the ban we have become targets by many, before the ban the Coursing people looked after us, chased away poachers and ensured we were well fed before they allowed us to play the game of life with the dogs, such fun we had running the dogs into the ground, the mighty Hare won far more than he lost until the ban and now we find our numbers dropping to less that 50% of what was here before the ban.
Our cousins in Southern Ireland are still thriving as the Coursing people look out for them.
Its so sad that the misguided try to force their beliefs on the world even when the damage they are doing is proven by scholars, they are so single minded they will be the cause of the hare population in the North becoming extinct.
We were in such a good place before the activists decided they knew what was best for us, now thousands of us are dead the activists still continue to try and kill the rest of us, what did we do to you to deserve this Mr Activist?

The Hare"

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: akenaton
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 04:09 PM

Well I suppose I will be the only member to hold an NGRC license to train racing greyhounds.
I've seen every side of the sport, some good some bad, but excitement in plenty.
A racing greyhound in full stride is a fine sight...fine brave animals, I've always had them in my home until the last year, when my last wee bitch died, aged 10 yrs....Ake

Subject: RE: Origins: The Lurgan Hare
From: GUEST,barry kerr
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 06:27 AM

I was directed to this discussion by a friend......I am quite flattered that the song has sparked such debate.I spent much of my youth hunting around the fields of north Armagh and in turn I have a great love of the hunting songs in our tradition.Songs sung by the great ulster singers like Geordie Hanna and Sarah Makem would have influenced me in some form i am sure in the writing of this song.As for allegorical undertones -i will leave that for you to work out! Thanks a million for stopping by to have a listen.Barry......ps the above post by martin ryan seems to have the correct words