The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #48023 Message #1238316
Posted By: Jeri
01-Aug-04 - 11:53 AM
Thread Name: DTStudy: Spancil Hill
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Spancil Hill
Why don't you think a hunt makes sense?
To me it's the most logical explanation: Hunts are/were frequently held on Sundays in Ireland. You have a horse fair starting the next day, so there are even more horses around than usual. The 'sport and kill' bit is in the version supposedly handed down from the original. I think it's more likely that there was simply a hunt than the lyrics of this song, which had originally been written down, were screwed up.
In any case, I hope someone who isn't just guessing (although I'm about 95% sure I'm right), will comment.