This song appears in Sam Henry's "Songs of the People" (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1990), page 157.

Among other notes, it says, "supposed author James Cairnes, teacher (Moortown School), assisted by Donald's Dan Devlin, c. 1820." The book consistently uses the spelling "Arboe" but I have changed it to "Ardboe."


OLD ARDBOE

Ye gods, assist my poor wearied notion.
Ye inspired muses, lend me your hand
To help my endeavour both night and morning
To sing the praises of that lovely strand.
Well situated in north of Ireland,
All in the county of sweet Tyrone,
Along the banks of famed Lough Neagh
Is that ancient fabric of Old Ardboe.

Oh, stand awhile and view that harbour
Where purling streams roll to and fro,
Where fishes sporting both night and morning
Yield of their bounty to old Ardboe.
No serpent lurks in its hallowed waters.
No odours poisoned infest the breeze,
While peace and plenty for sons and daughters
Abound around you, sweet Lough Neagh.

In the summer season for recreation
You can careless stray along the strands
Where Boreas' breezes are gently blowing
Along the shores where the fabric stands.
On the twenty-fourth [of] June and second of August
They do assemble from every part
For to petition the Queen of Heaven
To pardon sinners with contrite heart.

Humbly beseeching the Queen of Heaven
On her dear Son for to prevail
While on all occasions you'll be attended
By its dear loved pastor, priest O'Neill.
It was St. Patrick that did adorn
That great cross he placed on high
So that each spectator might well remember
How on the cross God's Son did die.

I've travelled France and I've travelled Flanders,
And all the countries beyond the Rhine,
But in all my rakings and undertakings
Ardboe, your equal I ne'er could find.
My course I've taken to Indian oceans,
To the shores of Cana and Galilee,
But in all my rakings and undertakings
Ardboe, your equal I ne'er did see.