Lyr Req: Banks of the Moy / Michael Davitt

Subject: Lyrics: "Micheal Davitt"
From: Roberto Sopero
Date: 07 Oct 98 - 05:42 PM

Hi, i would really like to sing this beautiful song... one line of it goes something like "He's now in a prison in Portland, far from the lovely green banks of the Moy"

Anyone know where i can find the words to this song?

Thanks, Bob

Subject: RE: Lyrics:
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 07 Oct 98 - 07:55 PM

This fairly recent song is usually known as "The Banks of the Moy". I thought I had posted a set at some stage - but don't appear to have. I'll do it when I get a chance.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyrics:
From: Zorro
Date: 07 Oct 98 - 09:49 PM

There is another good song about Michael Davitt called Forgotten Hero.

Subject: Lyr Add: BANKS OF THE MOY (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 08 Oct 98 - 03:15 PM

One day as I went on my ramble, from Swinford to sweet Ballylee
I met with a maid as I rambled and her name it was Mary McGrath
And she said "For the sake of old Ireland, Michael Davitt, my brave Irish boy
He is now in the prison of Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy"

I quickly approached this fair maiden, asked her what was the cause of her woe
And what was the reason for misery, that forced her from home for to go
And she sighed " For the rights of old Ireland , Michael Davitt my brave Irish boy
He is now in the prison of Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy"

Don't talk of your sweet sixty seven, we had brave men and true men also
There was young Peter Carney, God rest him, he died in Killarney also
He was drilled by my darling Mick Davitt, in the valleys and plains of Fermoy
And that's why he's a prisoner in Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy

And now to conclude and to finish, I hope that the day will soon come
When those cruel landlords and bailiffs from the isle of Saint Patrick must run
We will unfurl our green and gold banners and we'll raise them for Ireland on high
And we will drink to our brave Michael Davitt, from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy,

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banks of the Moy / Michael Davitt
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jan 08 - 12:53 PM

the women who you have mentioned as Mary McGrath is actually Mary McGee not McGrath
Also the lyrics you have here are not the original lyrics.. if you want I could give you the original lyrics..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banks of the Moy / Michael Davitt
From: MartinRyan
Date: 16 Jan 08 - 01:51 PM

Ten years later, this one comes back to haunt me! I know now that the song is by no means "recent" - a longer version was on broadsheets late 19C. I think I have a copy somewhere - will have a look.

GUEST: I'd love to see your set of lyrics to this one - and any details on where it come from.

Regards

p.s. I think the McGrath was just a typo - we've always sung it as McGee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banks of the Moy / Michael Davitt
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Jan 08 - 04:21 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banks of the Moy / Michael Davitt
From: GUEST,Big Tim
Date: 17 Jan 08 - 02:12 PM

A copy of the original 19th ballad sheet is held by Trinity College Library Dublin. (I have a copy).

So, the guy who claims to have written recently is,well, lying.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banks of the Moy / Michael Davitt
From: GUEST,Big Tim
Date: 17 Jan 08 - 02:14 PM

I should say the original ballad sheet is held by TCD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banks of the Moy / Michael Davitt
From: GUEST,Big Tim
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 05:43 AM

The original song was written by a woman called Mary Ward (about whom I have been unable to trace anything) and titled 'A New Song on Davitt's Lover's Lament on his incarceration from the banks of the Moy'. I think the song contains a good deal of poetic licence (or biographical ignorance). As far as is known, Davitt only ever had one 'lover': his wife Mary Yore, whom he married on 30 December 1886.

Prior to this he had spent many years in jail, firstly for Fenian activities, later for Land League 'agitation'. As far as I can learn, his prison record was,

1870-78 Newgate, Millbank, Dartmoor.
19-25 November 1879 Sligo Jail.
3 February 1881-6 May 1882 Portland (in Dorset).
8 February 1883-4 June 1883 Richmond Bridewell, Dublin.

The original ballad refers to 'young Peter Crawley from Kilcoody that died in Kildorney also'. I haven't been able to trace this person or these places. There are tho very similar place names in County Cork and the Fenian Peter Crowley was killed there in 1867.

When I visited the Davitt Museum in Straide, Mayo, a few years ago I also got a copy of a poem called 'Michael Davitt'. It isn't very good but as it was written by a local National School teacher, M.J. Flanagan, in 1906, I'll post the words later (it's quite long). The Museum didn't have a copy of the original ballad so I gave them one.

In 1908, Davitt's first biographer Francis Sheehy-Skeffington called him 'the greatest Irishman of the nineteenth century'. I still think that's true.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banks of the Moy / Michael Davitt
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 05:56 AM

BigTim,

In fact, of course, it was you who sent me the ballad sheet! It was in my head that John Moulden had done so - he was the first to mention its existence to me.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: Weep, Irishman, weep, every tear which...
From: GUEST,Big Tim
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 11:05 AM

Davitt died on 30 May 1906 and the following poem was written in the same year. The author was M.J. Flanagan of Cloonahulta, Kiltimagh, Mayo (Davtt's native county, of course). Flanagan was a teacher at Cloonfallagh National School. Cloonfallagh is a townland just south of famed Kilkelly so maybe the author knew the family made famous in that song!

Weep, Irishman weep, every tear which you shed,
Consecrate to the noble and pure,
Yes, weep, reflect though your Davitt is dead,
His fame through all time shall endure.

Weep, rather red ice that your sun though gone down,
In splendour unclouded has sat,
What monarch would spurn not both sceptre and crown,
For a throne in his peoples' heart set.

Weep Erin, if tears should be shed at the shrine,
Of the fearless and foremost in fight
Whose suffrage, whose life and labours were thine,
From the dawn to the dark of night.

While Switzers revere and remember their Tell,
Kosciusko, while dear to the Pole,
Thy name and thy fame, Michael Davitt shall dwell,
Deep deep in each Irishman's soul.

Yes, the waters of Mask may dry up in the sun,
Mangerton sink down to a plain,
But the laurels thy labours, thy triumphs have won,
Ever glorious and green shall remain.

Ye waves of Atlantic that circle our sod,
In language of ocean so plain,
Go tell every nation erected by God
Of the loss which today we sustain.

While Nephin looks down on Lough Conn's water set,
Like a sapphire embraced in his shade,
Shall the fond heart of Erin with loving regret
Brood lone o'er the cloisters of Straide.

Sleep on, from the sod that grows over thy clay,
A bright wreath of shamrock shall burst
To hollow the brow at no far future day,
Of our nation mid nations the first.

Sleep on, with thy sires, while the waves of the west
Shall murmur the song of repose,
Defender of right, ever foremost and best,
Bravest courage of our bitterest foes.

While the shamrock grows green o'er our Emerald Isle,
While her rivulets oceanward veer,
Through adversity's frown, through prosperity's smile,
Shall thy name noble Davitt be dear.

(Yea, Martin, you could be right!).

Line length changed to emphasize the rhyme.--JoeClone, 19-Jan-2008