McFADDEN'S PICNIC
(SONGS AND BALLADS OF IRELAND - p 39)

Near the beautiful town of Killybeys,
In the county of Donegal,
The McFaddens, the Maloneys,
With the children large and small,
Gave over their daily labor,
Sorra stroke of work would they do;
But betook themselves to the fields and woods
For to kick up a hubbubaloo.

There was all the McFaddens, both young and old,
And Terence O'Flaherty's niece;
A hundred and fifty Maloneys
Wid a peck of praties a piece:
And Father O'Toole from Carrigaline,
The Gilhooleys of Borrisokane,
And Patsey Maloy, that broth of a boy,
Wid the elegant Widow McShane.

'Neath the shade of a tree, by a clear running brook,
On the turf a cloth they spread.
The same the generally covered the limbs
Of the young McFaddens in bed.
Then they emptied their packs of the sweetest of cakes,
And the choicest of bacon and meat;
And, for two hours, though divil a bit did they do
But drink whisky and gabble and eat.

By the pipes of McGorrisk they danced and sung,
Like divils, wid mad possessed;
And Father O'Toolem in the widow's embrace,
Was shaking his foot wid the best.
Ould Scally, the tailor, released from his goose,
Had the wife of MdFadden in tow;
And tehy lathered the gravel in style that, bedad!
You can't see in a travelin' show.

The woods they presented a beautiful…
All thickened with maidens so…
And Mick Hogan a-courtin' … niece
In a nate little shady ret….
Ould McFadden dead drunk … like a corpse,
Wid a doxen Maloneys ….
And the swate little b … poteen
Wid the end of a….