Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: MartinRyan
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 03:32 AM

Thanks, Don. Definitely not in Pléaráca Dhún Dealgan - unless there was a second edition.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: Gulliver
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 09:54 PM

I've been away for a bit and just found this thread thanks to Martin. I'll check firstly in my own collection, then in Pléaraca Dhún Dealgain, and failing that in the Trad Music Archive. Give me a day or two! Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 07:20 PM

Sounds like Gulliver may have a set. Try sending him a PM?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: Frank_Finn
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 05:49 PM

Thanks everyone, but surely there are more than 3 verses??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 05:48 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:34 PM

The Traditional Ballad Index says "Star of Slane" appeared in a chapbook, 1826, and lists an author, 'Day."
"Star of Dundalk" not listed there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:24 PM

Seems to be a Louth line alright!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: Brakn
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:02 PM

From Martin's link.....

In beauteous spring when birds do sing,
And cheer each myrtle shade,
And shepherd swains ser'nades the plains,
To find their lambs that's stray'd,

High Boden's Grove I cahnced to rove,
To take a rural walk,
When to my sight appear'd in white,
The Star of Sweet Dundalk.

Your beauteous face my wounds encase,
And skin more white than chalk,
Makes me regret the day I met,
The Star of Sweet Dundalk.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:01 PM

The line is in the 2nd verse of "The Star of Slane:"

In beauteous Spring, when the warblers sing,
And their carols ring through each fragrant grove;
Bright Sol did shine, which made me incline
By the river Boyne for to go to rove, I
was ruminating and meditating
And contemplating as I paced the plain,
When a charming fair, beyond compare,
Did my heart ensnare near the town of Slane.

From "Evenings in the Duffrey," Patrick Kennedy, 1875, McGlashen & Gill; from "The Golden Treasury of Irish Songs and Lyrics, vol. 2; Wilson's Tales of the Borders- These references on line; your song may be a variant. I don't know when "Star of Slane" first appeared.

"The Star of Dundalk, and other Poems," S. Lover

In beauteous spring when birds do sing,
And cheer each myrtle shade,
And shepherd swains ser'nades the plains
To find their lambs that's stray'd,

Nigh Boden's Grove I chanced to rove
To take a rural walk,
When to my sight appear'd in white
The Star of Sweet Dundalk.

Your beauteous face my wounds encrase,
And skin more white than chalk,
Makes me regret the day I met
The Star of Sweet Dundalk.

Dublin Literary Gazette, reproduced in "New Estate, or the Young Travelers, in Wales and Ireland," 1831, London, Harvey & Darton. Also found with Google, on line.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 12:40 PM

In fact, the song is not in the "Pléaraca Dhún Dealgain" book mentioned by Gulliver - his mention in the thread is a bit ambiguous.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 12:31 PM

Frank

Try it again please!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 12:29 PM

Not sure what happened there, Frank. I'll sort it out...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: Frank_Finn
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 12:26 PM

MartinRyan , I find no reference to "Dundalk" in the posted thread. It does mention "The Star of the County Down"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 12:18 PM

There's also a version HERE!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 12:17 PM

Frank

There's a mention of it, and of a source, in THIS THREAD

I may have the book mentioned - I'll have a look.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Req: The Star of Sweet Dundalk
From: Frank_Finn
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 11:58 AM

Can anyone help with the words and air of this song?
The first line goes like this (I think)
"In beauteous Spring when birds do sing"