My new LP with lyrics sheet WITH LYRICS SHEET just arrived! Here at last are the official lyrics to this elusive song (collected by Jimmy Crowley from Mick Dowling of Cork City in 1978. Words and music traditional, arranged by a Jimmy Crowley):

THE MEET WAS AT MATTHEWS

The meet was at Matthews, the boys were all there
With a couple of sportsmen, including Boss Faire*
The hounds started trailing when Finder** gave out
And he gave such a ball the hare upped in full view.

With me right tally-ho, sweet tally-ho
Right tally, sweet tally, right tally-ho.

The first place we met her was Maye’s ploughed land
Where Blair from Cat Lane held the dog in his hand
She passed him so spritely, he got overjoyed
And he left the dog loose where McHugh got annoyed.

With me right tally-ho, sweet tally-ho
Right tally, sweet tally, right tally-ho.

The next place we saw her was Connor’s glen
And from that to Ballea was a fine rattling spin
She passed the old brake, where Drummer gave out
And he kept on the trail for we knew he was true.

‘Twas in Andy’s big ploughland the hare started to dodge
And she gave the big ring where our boys had to trod.
She jumped on the road, swing around by Tom Brownes
Jumped back on the road and she bailed out McShine’s***

With me right tally-ho, sweet tally-ho
Right tally, sweet tally, right tally-ho.

Here’s health to Timmy Meegan, that sportsman of fame
Like a bit of sixteen he was wild for that game.
While hunting the hounds his like seldom was seen
And he rattled in to the groves of Glasheen.

(Jimmy’s footnotes (verbatim):
* “Boss Faire” is a person’s name
** “Finder” is a dog’s name
*** Some class of an old local expression “She bailed out McShines.”)

---

Jimmy Crowley Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOJYtpjCdxw