from John Moulden, ed. Songs of the People: Selections from the Sam Henry Collection, part one. Belfast. Blackstaff Press, 1979
. "Composed a century ago, this is one of several songs by James McCurry, the blind fiddler from Myroe, Limavady, Co Derry, who, according to local tradition, was the itinerant fiddler from whom Miss Jane Ross of Limavady obtained the Londoinderry Air. sam Henry however in an unpublished typescript states her informant's name to have been McCormick."

Paul Brady's singing was inspired by Eddie Butcher's version of the song. The reference to "Newtown" comes from the time the town of Limavady was known as Newtownlimavady.

THE COLERAINE REGATTA

Good folks I'll tell you true, now my song commences,
In the year of '72, one day of my adventures,
The 'Derry Standard' [newspaper] came to us; it bore the special motto,
That on July the 31rst, comes off Coleraine regatta.

chorus:
Whack fal ol di da, Whack fal ol di daddy;
Whack fal ol di da,
Right toorin intan addy

The morning being fine as I prepared for starting,
I was led along the line by a man whose name was Martin;
In coming to the junction I heard two engines whistle,
The points were drawn together by a man called Frank McCrystall

The ladies shook their dress, and stood there with compunction,
Until the guard expressed - 'Take seats at Newtown Junction,'
When I obtained my seat, my fiddle began a-playing;
The engine she did beat, and the people fell hurra-ing

Many a rosy cheek was there, and many an ugly bundle;
And many a lass received a smack as the train wnt through the tunnel.
One of the bandboys sat by us, I heard his name called Lowry,
The fifes and drums struck up a tune which we called Kate fa Gowrie.

--- see also Sam Henry collection bibliographic info.

anyone know how that tune 'Kate fa Gowrie' [from Gowrie] goes?