The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #18094   Message #177317
Posted By: John Moulden
12-Feb-00 - 06:31 PM
Thread Name: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
Subject: RE: Belfast: What does 'faar down' mean?
My "Concise Ulster Dictionary" (Oxford University Press, 1996) says that "far downer, also wee far downer" someone from the far north ..." - not the north of Canada or Alaska but meaning someone, like myself, from north Antrim or north Derry or Donegal.

The Draperstown Co Londonderry singer, Mary Murphy sang a song called the Wee Far Down when the BBC recorded her in the fifties.

Gimme whisky ou[t[a the bottle said the wee far down
And I'll throw it in me throttle [throat] said the wee far down
Gimme a glass o beer, me spirits for to cheer
I'm the best man here, said the wee far down

I can't remember it all and can't at present find the transcription I made but it'll serve as an example and the thread's not about this song anyway.