CARDEN'S WILD DOMAIN

Of all the places in this world, no matter where I roam,
I love you dear old Erin's Isle, my own ancestral home,
Where 'er I stray by night or day, fond memory draws my brain,
To the happy, pleasant days I spent, around Carden's wild domain.

When autumn shades were golden, it was there I used to roam,
Where the pheasant, grouse and partridge, all find a happy home,
The wild jack hare, he rises there and scampers over the plain,
For to test the fleetness of the dogs, around Carden's wild domain.

And the turtle dove sits cooing there, upon the tall oak trees,
The thrush and blackbird warble loud, their notes come through the breeze,
The cuckoo's notes are heard to sound, along those flowery vales,
And echo all the woodland, around Carden's wild domain.

It grieves me too, to see this land, oppressed by tyrants' laws,
To strike a blow for freedom, would be a righteous cause,
To see her sons and daughters, compelled to cross the main,
And to leave their loving homes, around Carden's wild domain.

So rise you men of Bearnán and get ready for the fray,
And join the noble general, McSweeney from Killea,
Led on by those great mountaineers, those lands we'll soon regain,
And we'll plant our homesteads once again, around Carden's wild domain.

With cap and with feather trimmed with green, we will march in grand array,
Three cheers we'll give for everyone, who comes from sweet Killea,
Those cruel tyrannic landlords, we'll chase across the main,
And we'll raise the flag of freedom high, over Carden's wild domain.

This song is set at around the village of Templemore in County Tipperary. The Carden family were local landowners. Killea is a townland just north of Templemore. Bearnán Éile (or, Barnane)is a 480 metre hill just west of Killea. The song was written by Timothy Corcoran (1857-1928) of Carraduff (or, Curraduff), near Killea. He was involved in the Land War of the 1880s and later emigrated to the USA, where he became a priest. The song has been recorded by Kerry singer-songwriter Tim Dennehy on his outstanding album "The Blue Green Door". More details on Tim's website.