Excellent song by the equally excellent Canadian James Keelaghan. Lyrics below. A lovely song to sing:

(by the way, Darlodave, did you hear this at Robin Hood's Bay weekend?)

McCONVILLE'S – James Keelaghan

I work down at McConville's, it's the pub behind the square
If ever you're in Portadown, anyone can point you there
We have lagers ales and porters, but the thing that brings them in
Is the whiskey that McConville brews that where this all begins

IN all the years I've worked there and for fifty years before
Not a bottle of the sweet stuff ever walked outside the door
Cause McConville laid the rule down, it was honoured till today
Drink your fill while at the bar, but the bottle has to stay

Six or seven years ago when young Jimmy first came by
He was looking for a local, we were the third place that he'd tried
Her looked around, no ferns…, no telly blaring from the bar
And once he tried the whiskey he never strayed too far

He'd come in after dinner for an hour maybe more
Play some cards and talk and joke, 'cause that's what a local's for
Before he'd leave most nights, because the bottles had to stay
He'd ask me for a whiskey just to see him on his way

Three days ago his mate come in, he said Jimmy took a fall
From a roof that he was working on, he had no chance at all
And today after the funeral, after burying young Jim
They came here to his second home, the mourners crowded in

Then I did a thing I never thought I'd do 'til it was done
I took a bottle from the shelf, I held it up for everyone
Rules are made for breaking, tonight the whisky leaves the bar
An auction for the family, who'll give me £50 to start

At £500 the bidding stopped, yes, you couldn't hear a sound
But for the roar as Jimmy's mates stepped up and laid their pay packs down
And I can't believe I did it, never thought I'd see the day
That I'd hand someone the bottle and then watch it walk away

As I was heading home tonight I passed the grave yard by
I sure that I heard singing and silhouetted on the sky
Were Jimmy's friends and they were pouring something on his grave
A little offering for young Jim to help him on his way