Lyr Req/Add: The Shady Wood of Truagh / Trugh

Subject: Lyr Req: the shady woods of truagh
From: GUEST,mon
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 12:47 PM

l am looking for the words of THE SHADY WOODS OF TRUAGH
It is a co monaghan song
thanks, please reply to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 02:42 AM

You might try looking under "The Green Woods of Truagh" which is how I've always seen the title. I don't have any words for it or I'd post them, but the air was a favourite among the Irish harpers of times past.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: nutty
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 02:54 AM

Thanx for the clue Bonnie ..... Hope this is what our Guest is looking for............

The Green woods of Truagh

Subject: ADD: The Green Woods of Truagh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 03:04 AM

From the site Nutty linked to.
-Joe Offer (e-mail sent)-

---

The Green Woods of Truagh
Ethna Carbery [aka Mrs. Seumus MacManus, Anna Johnston] (1866-1902)

From: The Four Winds of Eirinn: Poems by Ethna Carbery. (Anna MacManus.), Complete Edition, Edited by Seumas MacManus. Dublin, Ireland: M. H. Gill and Son, Ltd. 1906. pp. 98-99.

THE GREEN WOODS OF TRUAGH.

In the green woods of Truagh we met without fear,
Your kiss on my lips, and your voice in my ear,
Your tender arms about me, and your eyes glad and clear­
        Ochón, the Green Woods of Truagh!

In the green woods of Truagh the days go on wings,
On every brown branch a gladsome bird sings
And the fragrant amber blossom of the honey-suckle swings­
        Ochón, the Green Woods of Truagh!

In the green woods of Truagh the bracken stands high,
And wells of spring-water in deep hollows lie,
And the red deer is browsing in the cool shadows nigh­
        Ochón, the Green Woods of Truagh!

In the green woods of Truagh no sorrow dared stay,
The lark called me early at dawn o' the day,
And o'er my sleep at night pleasant dreams used to play­
        Ochón, the Green Woods of Truagh!

In the green woods of Truagh you wait till I come­
I left home and you for the stranger's far home,
To bring a hoard of yellow gold across the grey foam­
        Ochón, the Green Woods of Truagh!

In the green woods of Truagh­ if God hears my prayer­
I shall reach you, O true love, my empty hands there,
For little of the yellow gold has fallen to my share­
        Ochón, the Green Woods of Truagh!

In the green woods of Truagh­ your heart on my own,
And your bright hair in ringlets across my cheek blown
Now where in all the wide, wide world, could greater bliss be known?
        Ochón, the Green Woods of Truagh!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: masato sakurai
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 03:15 AM

Or:

SHADY WOODS OF TRUGH, THE - About McKenna of Co Monaghan - ROUD#2911 - MORTON FSU 1970 pp58-60 Nelly & Peter Mullarky, Gragnagore, Co Fermanagh -- Ella & Peter Mullarkey rec by Robin Morton: MERCIER IRL-12 1970
(From: HERE)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 03:36 AM

I wonder if this (click) is the tune. I think there's more to this than we've been able to find so far. I found a message from Dan Milner that said it was one of his favorite love songs - I'll send him a personal message and see if he has anything to add. He spells it "Trugh."
Click here for more information about the tune at a fascinating Irish tune resource. Coillte Glas A Triucha appears to be the Irish name of the tune.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 03:28 PM

Alan Ng's site has a lot of entries, but most seem to contain no information apart from discographic references. I find The Fiddler's Companion much more useful. The reference there is short, so I'll copy it here:

GREEN WOODS OF TRUIGHA/TRUAGH (Coillte Glas Na Triuca). AKA and see "Silence Is In Our Festive Halls." Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). G major. Standard. AB. One of two tunes(along with "Madame Crofton") played by blind Irish harper Arthur O'Neill for the second prize of 8 guineas at a harpers' festival organized at Granard in 1781. O'Neill again was awarded the second prize at the Belfast Harp Festival in 1792 for his performance of the same airs. O'Neill (1850), 1903/1979; No. 276, pg. 48.

There doesn't seem to be an entry for Silence Is In Our Festive Halls at the moment.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 06:13 PM

There seems to be some confusion out there as to the exact title of that last; see Silence is in Our Festal Halls, a song by Thomas Moore set to The Green Woods of Truigha.

Roud has two references to Shady Woods of Trugh; audio and print, both as in Masato's reference above. The text appears to be a different one from the poem quoted earlier, and begins

From out the shady woods of Trugh, M'Kenna rides at noon...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: nutty
Date: 23 Nov 02 - 06:28 PM

Just as a matter of interest here is some information of the McKenna's of Traugh with another lovely poem.

McKemma of Traugh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Noreen
Date: 24 Nov 02 - 11:19 AM

The Shady Woods of Truagh (however it's spelled in English) is a different song from the lyrics given by Joe above.

Will see what else I can come up with- not heard it for years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 24 Nov 02 - 06:35 PM

Malcolm

You're right - and I suspect its the one sought.Frank Harte recorded it a couple of years ago - I should have the words somewhere. Did we not have a thread about it before?

Regards

p.s. Funny how often Ethna Carbery's name has popped up in the past few weeks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Nov 02 - 06:47 PM

It does sound familiar, yes; but I can't find anything here at the moment. There are a few copies of Robin Morton's book available at "not all that much really" just now (given the price of beer), and I am tempted, I must admit...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 25 Nov 02 - 05:12 AM

Malcolm

I have a (rather dog-eared) copy of the book and will transcribe words when I get a chance. I'm also trying ot recall an older source...

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: SHADY WOODS OF TRUGH
From:
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 01:11 AM

FOr the person looking fopr the lyrics to the Shady Woods of Trugh. I have transcribed the words from a recording I made off a record over 20 years ago. I am learning the celtic folk harp and for a year now I have been loking for the sheet music to this song. Does anyone know where I can get sheet music for this song?

From out the shady woods of Trugh
MacKenna rides at noon
The sun shines brightly, not a cloud
Darkens the skys of June
No eye has he for nature's charms
They don't distract his brain
As through the flowery vales he takes his way
And never draws the reigns

Until before him loom the towers
Of Glaslock Castle's Hold          (somewhat garbled)
Which holds a treasure in its walls
More dear to him than gold
For in it dwells his own true love
The dark eyed young Maureen
Whom he hopes that God will bless his home
In the woods of Trugh so green

I have come to look upon you love
For its soon that I must go
With my brave Trugh Men to Benberg         (unsure of spelling)
There to defend on row      (garbled, possibly our homes or Tyrone)
I have come to look upon you Love
And hear your answer sweet
For I might in the battle fall
And we might never meet

Go forth my love, my blessings go
And smite the saxon horde
And when you return I'll be your bride
Without another word
With a fond embrace they bid a dieu
As the evening sun went down
Behind yon western wooded hill
That overlooks Glaslock Tower O

MacKenna lightly mounts his steed
At the twighlight of the eve
And he heads her over "Dasa" hill
Andd Trugh's green shady "Lee"
That night he leads his gallant men
For the dark hills of Tyrone
To meet the army of the North
At Benberg on the "Rhone"

Right well O'Neil was glad to see
Those gallant mountaineers
Who kept teh Saxon wolves at bay
Round ancient Trugh for years
Full well they fought on Benberg's Plains
As Englands flag went down
And few that night escaped them
Toward Carrickfergus Town

The Autumn's winds being in the air
And berries ripe and red
MacKenna and his lovely bride
In Glaslock Church were wed
And never in her father's thought
A fairer bride was seen
That McMahon's only daughter
The dark eyed young Maureen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 09:04 AM

Thanks, mmowles, that stirs the memories.
It's Benburb throughout,
and
There to defend Owen Roe      
and Glaslough

Read about the history of Owen Roe O'Neill here:
http://www.cornafean.com/Owen%20Roe%20O'Neill.htm (click)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 09:09 AM

Tune now running through my head.
If no-one else has it transcribed, i can do a Noteworthy file.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 09:44 AM

(e-mail sent to original questioner)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: GUEST,GMBRINEY
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 11:43 AM

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THAT REPLYED TO MY REQUEST FOR THE WORDS OF THE SHADY WOODS OF TRUAGH,IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED
THANKS AGAIN
MONICA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 12:37 AM

Can we get better lyrics, or any more information on this song?
-Joe Offer-

---

Here's the entry from folktrax.org:
SHADY WOODS OF TRUGH, THE - About McKenna of Co Monaghan - ROUD#2911 - MORTON FSU 1970 pp58-60 Nelly & Peter Mullarky, Gragnagore, Co Fermanagh -- Ella & Peter Mullarkey rec by Robin Morton: MERCIER IRL-12 1970

Subject: ADD: The Shady Woods of Trugh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 03:38 AM

I answered my own question. Interesting song.

THE SHADY WOODS OF TRUGH

From out the shady woods of Trugh, M'Kenna rides at noon
The moon [sic] shone brightly, not a cloud darkened the sky of June
No eye has he for nature's charms, They don't annoy his brain
As through the flowery vales he takes his way And never draws a rein.

Before him stand the tall grey towers Of Glaslough castle old (hold)
It holds a treasure in its walls More dear to him than gold
For in it dwells his own true love, That gentle young Maureen
Whom he hopes, please God, will bless his home In the Woods of Trugh so green

I have come to look upon you love, For tomorrow I must go
With my brave Trugh Men to Benburb, There to defend Owen Roe,
I have come to look upon your brow And hear your answer sweet
As if in battle I should fall We never again shall meet

Go forth my love, my blessings go And smite the Saxon's forehead
When you come back I'll be your bride Without another word
With fond embrace they bid adieu As the sun went sinking down
Behind the western wooded hills That o'erlook Glaslough Town

M'Kenna lightly mounts his steed At the twilight of the eve
It leads her over Dava Hills And Trugh's green shady woods
Tonight he meets his gallant men On the green hills of Tyrone
To meet the army of the North, At Benburb on their own

And well O'Neil was pleased to meet These gallant mountaineers
Who kept the Saxon wolves at bay Round ancient Trugh for years
Full well they fought on Benburb's Plains As England's flag went down
And a few of them escaped that night Towards Carrickfergus Town

Oh! autumn winds being in the woods And berries ripe and red
M'Kenna and his youthful bride In Glaslough Church were wed
And never in her father's hall A fairer maid was seen
That McMahon's only daughter The gentle young Maureen

source: Folksongs Sung in Ulster, Robin Morton, 1970

Note: Trugh is in County Monaghan


-Joe Offer-

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady wood of truagh
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 03:52 AM

Joe,

With Noreen's corrections, the song is reasonably OK. Working from memory, I make it:

THE SHADY WOODS OF TRUGH

From out the shady woods of Trugh
MacKenna rides at noon
The sun shines brightly, not a cloud
Darkens the skys of June
No eye has he for nature's charms
They don't distract his brain
As through the flowery vales he takes his way
And never draws the reins

Until before him loom the towers
Of Glaslough Castle's Hold         
Which holds a treasure in its walls
More dear to him than gold
For in it dwells his own true love
The dark eyed young Maureen
Whom he hopes that God will bless his home
In the woods of Trugh so green

I have come to look upon you love
For its soon that I must go
With my brave Trugh Men to Benburb        
There to defend Owen Roe      
I have come to look upon you Love
And hear your answer sweet
For I might in the battle fall
And we might never meet

Go forth my love, my blessings go
And smite the saxon horde
And when you return I'll be your bride
Without another word
With a fond embrace they bid a dieu
As the evening sun went down
Behind yon western wooded hill
That overlooks Glaslough Town

MacKenna lightly mounts his steed
At the twighlight of the eve
And he heads her over Dasa Hill
And Trugh's green shady Lee (??)
That night he leads his gallant men
O'er the dark hills of Tyrone
To meet the army of the North
At Benburb on their own

Right well O'Neil was glad to see
Those gallant mountaineers
Who kept the Saxon wolves at bay
Round ancient Trugh for years
Full well they fought on Benburb's Plains
As Englands flag went down
And few that night escaped them
Toward Carrickfergus Town


The Autumn's winds being in the air
And berries ripe and red
MacKenna and his lovely bride
In Glaslough Church were wed
And never in her father's thought
A fairer bride was seen
That McMahon's only daughter
The dark eyed young Maureen


I'll check this agains Morton's book later - but suspect it's OK.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the shady woods of trugh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 01:28 PM

I think the Morton transcription I posted leaves a lot to be desired, but it may be that Morton's mondegreens came from the singer he heard it from. If you put Martin's transcription with Morton's, I think we have a song that makes sense.

Here are Morton's background notes:

Here's a County Monaghan song if ever there was one. Trugh was one of the Baronies of Monaghan. Situated in the north of the country, it is bordered by County Tyrone. The McMahons and the M'Kennas are two of the leading families in the area and are mentioned in all sources. The McMahons especially were renowned, leading the fight against the Saxons for years in that part of the country. Sir John Davis, in a letter to the Earl of Shaftesbury in 1607 typified them thus: 'The McMahons undoubtedly are the proudest and most barbarous sept among the Irish.'
The M'Kennas, though perhaps slightly fewer in number, were no less renowned and patriotic. Major John M'Kenna, perhaps the M'Kenna of our song, lost his life in 1689; his being the first blood of the Williamite campaign. The Jacobites, of which he was a leader, said his killing was a cowardly ambush. The Williamites, like Leslie, protested that they had been attacked by M'Kenna and his army. He was, they said, killed in the ensuing fight — 'The Battle of Drumbanagher — You pays your money and you takes your choice!
In 1607 Patrick M'Kenna was granted about 250 acres of the Barony of Trugh by the Lord Deputy. It was from here that our M'Kenna 'rode at noon' to join Owen Roe. After the Williamite campaign, in 1694, John M'Kenna, son of the Major, was adjudged within the articles of Limerick. In 1703 it seems that he sold the Trugh estate but returned soon after and leased some land in the area again. Various attempts were made to dispossess his sons by Bills of Discovery, I'm afraid I don't know to what effect. However members of this line continued to live in the vicinity until the mid 19th century.
Many of the family went abroad at various stages. Perhaps the most famous and colourful was Don Juan M'Kenna. He went to Spain and joined the army in 1783, but the 'rebel blood' was in him. When he was sent to Chile a few years later to quell a rising, he ended up fighting for the Chileans, against his former masters. He became a general and is still remembered as one of the heroes in Chile's 'fight for freedom'.
Although I cannot offer any proof, it seems likely that the McMahons owned Glaslough Estate at the time of the Battle of Benburb in 1646. Somewhere between 1646 and the Williamite Wars they lost possession of it to the Leslies, who still reside there. A possible reason for this loss was their involvement in the wars of 1641. Certainly if M'Kenna and a McMahon did marry, as our song suggests, it would be in the nature of a wedding of royalty. The McMahons and the M'Kennas were kings of County Monaghan, in all but name.
For the Battle of Benburb (The Proud Peak) in 1646, bearded Owen Roe O'Neill, gathered together many clans, under his flag. He outmanoeuvred the approaching English and Scots armies and sent them fleeing back towards the coast. In his famous speech before the battle, Owen Roe asked of his men 'Let your manhood be seen by your thrust of pike.' Many became 'men' that day. The Irish followed the routed English and Scots and in the carnage that followed, slew 3000 men.
Nevertheless our story ends happily, because McKenna returned home and claimed his bride.

Subject: RE:The Shady Wooods of Trugh
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 11:56 PM

Joe:

I know it has been over six years but I finally got back to my thread on "The Shady Wooods of Trugh". At the time you seemed the most helpful. I have the lyrics down but I am still trying to find sheet music. Do you have any ideas on where to get sheet music for The Shady Woods of Trugh (about the McKennas and the McMahons of County Monaghan)? [e-mail]

Mike Mowles

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Shady Wood of Truagh / Trugh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 12:49 AM

E-mail sent to Mike Mowles with songbook scan. MIDI added - see links above.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Shady Wood of Truagh / Trugh
From: GUEST,DR FRED FREEMAN
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 07:50 AM

Can Joe Offer possible send through a copy of the tune (the actual dots) for The Shady Woods of Truagh? I hope so.

                                           Many thanks,

                                           FRED FREEMAN.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Shady Wood of Truagh / Trugh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 01:11 PM

I'd be glad to, Fred. Just contact me by e-mail.
-Joe Offer-
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: req/ADD: The Shady Wood of Truagh / Trugh
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 03:55 AM

Leeneia sent a MIDI that's quite different from the one I posted in July. Here's her message:

Hello, Joe. Would you please post this MIDI to the thread called 'The shady wood ofTruagh'? I learned it years ago from an LP by Charlie and Ann Heymanns (sp). It's different enough from the version in O'Neill's to be worth preserving. I tried working out chords for it, but I think it moves stepwise too much. Thanks leeneia

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Shady Wood of Truagh / Trugh
From: weerover
Date: 26 Apr 21 - 06:44 AM

I heard this recently sung by Niall Hanna on the radio (though he titles it The Stately Woods...). The tune appears very similar, but I can't place the other song, though I am sure I know it well. Can anyone identify?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Shady Wood of Truagh / Trugh
From: Felipa
Date: 26 Apr 21 - 07:07 AM

youtube
Niall Hanna, The Stately Woods of Truagh

Daoiri Farrell, The Shady Woods of Truagh (and there are other videos available of Daoiri Farrell singing the Shady Woods)

I'm trying to answer weerover's question about another song to the same or similar tune. I'm thinking there is a song sung to the same tune but at a faster tempo, but the words or title haven't come to me yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Shady Wood of Truagh / Trugh
From: Felipa
Date: 26 Apr 21 - 07:15 AM

"The Woods of Truagh" sung unaccompanied by Matthew Byrne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t5vfoF5KnI

Nutty's link, early on in this discussion, to another song "The Green Woods of Truagh", is not working now. But you can find instrumental recordings of the melody on youtube, and Ethna Carberry's words are posted in this discussion (I haven't tried to fit the tune and lyrics together to see whether they work well).