Lyr Add: Dungarvan, My Home Town (Mai O'Higgins)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: MudGuard
Date: 21 Oct 99 - 11:01 AM

I found the lyrics for this song which is song (among others?) by Dermot O'Brien.
Can anyone help me with the meaning of the DCs in the first line???

Dungarvan, My Home Town

There's a spot in the DCs, a place dear to me
Where the comrades are keeping a watch o'er the sea
And though far I have wandered yet wherever I roamed
It's the place I love dearest, the place I call home.

Chorus

Dungarvan, my home town I love best of all
Dear old faces and places sure oft I recall
In my heart I keep wishing some day I will be
Back again in Dungarvan, my home by the sea.

On the bridge I will linger at sweet even tide
Just to gaze o'er the waters that home there inside
Happy memories come stealing as the soft shadows fall
On the fishing boats anchored there beside those sheer wall.

How I treasure each token of days that I knew
In the town of sweet memories where friends are so true
And I thank God in Heaven producing for me
My old home town Dungarvan, my home by the sea.

Subject: Lyr Add: DUNGARVAN MY HOMETOWN (Mai O'Higgins)
From: Brakn
Date: 21 Oct 99 - 12:39 PM

Here's another set. The Decies are perhaps mountains or cliffs.

Mick Bracken


DUNGARVAN MY HOMETOWN

There's a spot in the Decies, a place dear to me,
Where the Comeraghs are keeping a watch o'er the sea,
And though far have I wandered, yet wherever I roam,
It's the place I love dearest, the place I call home.

CHORUS: Dungarvan, my hometown, I love best of all.
Dear old faces and places sure oft I recall.
In my heart I keep wishing some day I will be
Back again in my hometown, my home by the sea.

On the bridge I will linger at sweet eventide
Just to gaze o'er the waters at old Abbeyside.
Happy memories come stealing as the soft shadows fall
On the fishing boats anchored there beside the quay wall.

I have seen fairest places, but I'd rather be
Where the Cunnigar's sleeping 'neath hills dear to me,
And across the blue water of that quiet little bay,
Dear old Helvick is dreaming in her bonnet of grey.

How I treasured each token of days that I knew
In that town of sweet memories where the friends are so true,
And I thank God in heaven for choosing me
My old home Dungarvan my home by the sea.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 08:27 AM

"The Decies" is an anglicisation of "Na Deise", a Gaelic name for part of County Waterford.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: MudGuard
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 11:08 AM

Thanks Martin!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Oct 99 - 10:39 PM

The Comeraghs are mountains in Waterford, across from the Galtees, and on the other side they look down on Dungarvan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,Non Member
Date: 29 Nov 02 - 11:52 AM

The DC's is actually an old irish word Deise's pronounced approximately "Day-Shess" (Déices in gaelic irish) referring to the original gaelic irish for the area of County Waterford including Dungarvan. In the village of Kilmeadan near Waterford city you will find the Deice Bar and also a folk group called the Deice Boys.
Regards,
Davey

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,Ciaran Power
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 08:27 AM

Hi, you posted this a long time agon but just in case you never got a response then here goes.....

As a Dungarvan man myself I used to ponder this question. Waterford, the County that Dungarvan is the second biggest town in, used to be known as "The Deise" (Pronounced Day-Sha). Over time this evolved, through phonetic distortion, into "The Decies" as in "Dee-Cees". Thus what is written in the lyrics is a further truncation to "DCs" - nothing too elaborate and sexy I'm afraid.

I'm not sure what you interest in the song is but there is an imposter song out called "The Old Dungarvan Oak". A nice song but very twee and having nothing at all to do with Dungarvan originally. It is in fact a Welsh ditty called "The Old Caernaveron Oak" which was cleverly reworked (by changing one word!!!!).

As an aside Dungarvan originates from two Irish words "Dun" and "Garbhan" (in Irish the "bh" is pronounced as a "v"). "Dun" being the Irish for Castle and "Garbhan" being a Saint from the area (literally translated as a "rough man"). Thus Dungarvan = castle of the rough man!

As an Irish emigrant I am typically more prone than someone living in Ireland to maintaining links with Ireland - thus my son has been given the name Garbhan as a nod to home.

Regards,

Ciaran

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 05:06 PM

Can anybody help me with the chords fo The Old Dungarvan Oak please

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 02:32 AM

From memory

                        
(C)As I went out one morning, going (F)to Dungarvan fair
I spied a lovely (C)maiden with the sunlight in her (G)hair
Her (C)way was so delightful, her (F)voice was like a bell
And when I over(c)took her, I (G)asked if she were (C)well

Lay (G)down your woolen shawl, my love
I (C)swear it is no (F)joke
and I'll tell you the (C)story, of the (G)old Dungarvan (C)oak

I think th rests the same if you need the other two verses I'll post them

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:34 AM

Thanks very much , your a star.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:42 AM

sadly not....!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:08 AM

Never mind; links have now appeared (just as I was about to post them) to other discussions here which will provide the information our enquirer wanted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: DannyC
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 01:54 PM

Ciaran,

A fella from Ring (Labhras) occasionally sings this song here (Kentucky) for some Dungarvan-native publicans - some Kielys and an O'Byrne. I will check out his version and see if I can add anything to what's posted above.

The Dungarvan crowd rule the roost around here - they even have "The Green Monkey" to show for it.

Labhras also sings a song he calls (or what I thought might have looked like) "The Daysha". If anybody's interested, I'll ask him about that as well.   

Thanks to all for the above discussion.

May I ask, was Deise the old name of the region limited to Southwest Waterford? Was Portláirge a distinct region within what is now the larger county or a old name for the extended region/county?

I suppose I could ask around here.

Cheers,

Danny

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: sian, west wales
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 02:00 PM

And ... it isn't Old CAERNARFON Oak; it's Old CARMARTHEN Oak. Totally different place. It's a Frank Hennessy song and I'm pretty sure there's another thread about it somewhere. Frank may even have contributed to it.

sian

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: DannyC
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 02:22 PM

Slipping in a quick placename change can be wonderfully evil and effective. I once spent a little time up in Twillingate, Newfoundland where some fishing families (Doves and Youngs and Roberts) treated us splendidly. It felt like every man in the place had apres-spinach Popeye forearms (forged, I suppose, by a lifetime of jigging for cod) excepting your humble contributor.

I did not have much to offer in return for the pan-seared cod ("with the rainbow still on it") and taste of Screech. To overcome my sense of inadequacy, I shamelessly inserted Twillingate into Tommy Makem's "Boys of Killybegs" and supplied a song for dessert(to a nice reception, I might add). After all, I had to do something - the song caused a minor stir and after a week or so of singing it I forgot all about dear oulde donegal.   

Hopefully any harm I caused was minimal. They did really seemed to enjoy it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 05:54 PM

As a man from Abbeyside, a village on the other side of the harbour and separated from Dungarvan by an old bridge, I'm delighted the correction was made by Brakn.

Up the Village!!

If anyone wants to see photos and hear songs please look up my site - www.dungarvansongs,com

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: michaelr
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 09:29 PM

There's a lovely song about Dungarvan by Kevin Evans called "The Orchard", recorded by Sean Tyrell on his CD of the same name.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: joseph
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 04:36 AM

If you like the dungarvan song ,you should also like a song called the orchard.If you would like the lyrics and more information contact me. It starts of When i was nine in harvest time i crossed the orchard wall

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 06:35 PM

Hi men from Dungarvan, I hear that there are great sessions again in "The Local" on the Square. Who plays there regularly ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: joseph
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 05:14 AM

the decies is the if you like the common expression used by irish people to classify one as a Waterford man. the term is often used by sports commentators to describe the waterford team. they would say Here comes the Decie men when the run on to the pitch

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ORCHARD (Kevin Evans)
From: joseph
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 05:28 AM

Here are the words of the orchard
The Orchard
Kevin Evans
Modtrad Music © SOCAN

1. When I was nine in harvest time I crossed the orchard wall.
The moon was bright and the apples ripe upon the ground did fall.
We filled our sacks and made our way back more adventures soon to find,
In an orchard 'neath the Comeraghs in my sweet Dungarvan time.

2. I crossed the orchard wall again when I was just thirteen.
It was I think to be my first drink of cider and poteen.
I remember well it tasted like hell and I hoped the pain would end soon,
In an orchard 'neath the Comeraghs in a sweet Dungarvan moon

3. When I was nineteen years of age, I crossed the wall with pride.
My Annie fair with the nut brown hair was walking by my side.
Ah, the clothes came off. we turned and we tossed. all innocence was gone,
In an orchard 'neath the Comeraghs in a sweet Dungarvan dawn.

4. And when I was twenty-one years old, I married Annie there.
The apple blossoms in the trees looked better in her hair,
And when the day was over, we danced away night through the trees,
In an orchard 'neath the Comeraghs by my sweet Dungarvan seas.

5. I'm forty-five and much alive and children have I four:
Three girls and one fine strappin’ son and I have hopes for more.
I teach them of their lives ahead and I have plenty to tell still
In an orchard 'neath the Comeraghs by my sweet Dungarvan hills.

6. I'm ninety-one, my life is done, and my Annie's long since gone.
My days were good, as well they should, but it's time that I passed on.
And when I die, I want to lie beneath the whispering trees
In an orchard 'neath the Comeraghs in a sweet Dungarvan breeze.

And when I'm gone, may I be one with the air and the land and the foam
In an orchard 'neath the Comeraghs in my sweet Dungarvan home,
In an orchard 'neath the Comeraghs in my sweet Dungarvan home.

Recorded by Evans and Doherty
"Galway to Graceland” on REGO RECORDS © 1996

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 01:15 PM

Several reliable-looking web sites say DUNGARVAN MY HOMETOWN (or … HOME TOWN) was written by Mai O'Higgins.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: +Question: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,Diarmaid O Cadhla, Corcaigh.
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 03:24 PM

Does anyone know where I could get an MP3 or some soundtrack for Dungarvan my hometown?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,Joseph
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 06:45 PM

"Up the Deise" is a very popular phrase which is roared aloud at Waterford GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) matches. I'm from Ring 7 miles from Dungarvan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: Gulliver
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 01:41 PM

Yes, the song was written by Mai O'Higgins, who also wrote another song popular in the 60's I believe called Dublin Bay. I've a session recording of the latter song, but not of Dungarvon. She wrote a book a couple of years ago and released a CD of her songs. I found the book recently in the Irish Trad Archive in Dublin.

Don

Subject: Lyr Add: ROAD NOT TAKEN (Kevin Evans)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 02:02 PM

Another by Kevin Evans with, I believe a Dungarvan and Halifax setting:

    Road Not Taken
Road Not Taken**** (From the album "Road Not Taken" by Evans and Doherty)

I live in a warm and friendly city,
Happy with my life and what I do.
I've got a wife, she's gentle and so pretty
But come each month of May I think of you.

(Chorus:) Road not taken, line not crossed
I still love you, ah, but only just.

I remember scented summer evenings
Healthy, with those flowers in your hair,
Sipping cider on the steps at Mooney's,
Breathing in the music in the air.
Laughing, bravely dancing by the water,
Drinking creamy pints at Dhu Ceny'l
Drove a Honda 50 off the seawall:
A fifteen-year-old kid out of control.

(Chorus)

Every year I meet up with my old love,
Memories that time cannot erase.
I recall each lovin', longin' moment
Every time I look into her face.
I will always be the wild and restless,
She is always what I would have been
Had I stayed and struggled in my hometown
Like all my friends, how I admire them.

(Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 27 Jul 08 - 07:09 AM

IMO one of the best songs from that part of the country is 'The Maid of Lismore' aka The Lismore Turkeys or Dungarvan, as sung by Martin Reidy of Co. Clare:

One Morning I chanced to go roving
It being in the sweet month of May,
When flowers they were blooming most charming
And pleasant and warm the day.

I chanced for to meet with this fair one,
Her aspect so free and so rare,
And she going to the town of Dungarvan
At the very first dawn of day.

She hastened her paces before me;
I told her to take her ease.
But the more I advanced to discourse her,
The quicker she squelled (?) on the heel.

I quickly stepped up to this fair maid,
I asked her how far was she going,
Or did she belong to Dungarvan,
Or where was her native home?

She said: "I belong to Lismore, sir,
Some turkeys I have for sale,
And I'm going to the town of Dungarvan,
For this is our market day."

I asked her if she'd want a driver,
As her donkey was going too slow,
And she'd be in full time for Dungarvan
And her turkeys would all be sold.

In sweet Cappoquin I embraced her
And we called for a cruiscin lan (full jug).
If I drank up a barrel of porter
This damsel she'd pay for all.

When I found her so civil and jovial
I thought I might make her my own.
I told her I owned a large farm,
As long as the lease would hold.

"Besides, I have cattle and corn,
I have money that nobody knows,
And I'll have you as snug and as warm
As if you got all in Lismore."

While Kathy and I were discoursing
She used look at me now and again.
Her apron belt she kept folding
And twisting it up in a ring.

We called for another full jorum (large jug)
'Til Kathy and I were pleased
And we slept till the market was over
And the turkeys by and by got cheap.

"The curse of the crows may await you,
You tricked me, you naughty rogue.
Or how will I go home to my father,
Or how will I face Lismore?"

"I'll have you before the recorder
At Waterford Town next March,
And I'll have you hung or transported
For trespassing against the law."

Jim Carroll

---

Also posted in Lismore Turkeys thread. -Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,guest no1
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 12:16 PM

Dungarvan my home town was taken from the song Carmathen my home town a place in Wales, its not a Waterford song

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,Jo
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 10:15 AM

Merlin the Magician made an ancient prophecy "If the priory oak should ere come down, then will drown Carmarthen town" The old oak stood until some road changes came along and it was moved to the local museum, I think, round about the 70's-80's. I remember it being very decayed and propped up with iron straps but still standing! I'm sure the Carmarthen version came before the Dungarvan song. The lyrics fit Carmarthen perfectly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: Gulliver
Date: 29 Sep 09 - 10:34 PM

There's a short clip of Dungarvan My Home Town and other songs by Mai O'Higgins on Amazon here

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dungarvan, My Home Town
From: GUEST,lippy palmer
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 06:23 PM

GUEST,guest no1

Dungarvan My Home Town is a song about Dungarvan it was written by a native Mai O'Higgins, do you know anything bout the place at all ?!?