I got the words of this song from Seamus McMathuna at a fleadh in Enniscorthy. By I heard it sung - most beautifully by a Hari Krishna man from Wicklow. (cannot remember his name)
I have the sheet Seamus gave me and the words are shown below

In the notes Seamus says this:

"I first heard this song sung by Garry McMahon at a Fleadh in Newcastle West back in the early '60's. At that stage when good songs could only be obtained by diligent collecting. Garry had a large repertoire of fine and rare songs. The Lady of Loughrea was written by Páraig Fallon, a well-known poet of the 1940 -1960 period. I believe it was inspired by the ideas and motifs of a gaelic song, Tá mo theach ar an ardán"

These are the words on the sheet he gave me and there are only very slight differences to Tony's. btw It is the title song on the Colm O'Donnell CD titled Heartstrings.


LADY OF LOUGHREA
(Páraig Fallon)

My heartstrings make sweet music if I but think of you
And if you should call me darling, I would wear a feathered shoe
I would swim the Suir or Slaney or the Shannon anyday
Just to talk with you, lovely lady, and to walk you round Loughrea.

If I owned all Portumna or the markets of Athlone
Or the wharves and all the money that belong to Limerick town
I would part them to your people, if you'd let me presume
Just to walk with you, lovely lady, and to be your Squire in Tuam.

Oh rose-leaf maid 'tis easy for to blame the wastrel now.
But who was ever able for to harrow with a plow?
Not reared was I for labour or to watch the seasons play
But gambling, sport and dancing, that lost me my own Loughrea .

In her grey house by the water, my love is dwelling still,
She's the moon's only daughter, oh! her lamp upon the hill,
She may braid her hair at evening while those who walk the way,
They may think it's the moon that's rising o'er the grey lake of Loughrea.

Last night, abroad in London, I spent my only crown,
I toasted my own one and after cried tears down.
I walked the lamps till morning and I heard your "hark away",
I wished I were the red fox that you hunt around Loughrea

Oh,lent may last till Easter and after summer comes,
But fasting or feasting, the sloe bush buds and blooms,
The Queen of Hearts is lonely but the joker's still to play,
I will lead and take her from you, oh strong men of Loughrea.