Lyr/info req: Strongmen from Loughrea

Subject: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Antaine
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 07:18 PM

Martin,
Do you have any info on "Strongmen from Loughrea"?
Background story?
Translation?
By whom?
etc.
And....by the way I don't have your e-mail address!
Go raibh maith agat.
Antaine

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 04:04 AM

Antaine

Talk to you in Paris!

Regards

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 06:09 AM

And while I think of it.... remind me to talk to you about Liam's Brother!

Regards

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 08:23 PM

Antaine

I was talking (briefly) to Johnny Johnston tonight. He got it from Brian McMahon's son (Gabariel?) and thinks it was written about 30 years ago by " a guy in UCG called Fallon". My guess is that it might well have been Padrig Fallon the poet and playwright who, though he didn't work in UCG, was born and reared in Athenry! Johnny reckons that Brian O Rourke also sings it and is likely to know the story.

Regards

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: John Moulden
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 07:17 AM

Antaine

I told you that this song was on a Comhaltas compilation - "Popular Traditional Songs." The booklet which accompanied the cassette says - using the title "The Lady of Loughrea" - "This song was written by Pádraig Fallon, a well known poet of the 1940-'60 period. It was inspired by the motifs and ideas of an Irish song 'Tá mo theach or an adrán'. Garry McMahon (who, incidentally, is an ex-All-Ireland footballer) is a native of Listowel now living in Newcastle West."

If the Irish song is the one you were thinking of, this seems to fit in both with the thoughts you had last weekend and with what Johnny Johnston told Martin.

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: John Moulden
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 07:19 AM

Sorry, further thoughts. One man to get more from would be Séamus MacMathúna - he wrote the booklet.

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 07:54 AM

Well done, John! It had been nagging at me that, apart from recent live performances, I had heard the song on record some years ago. I suspect I had/have a copy of that CCE recording on tape somewhere - without the notes.

Regards

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: John Moulden
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 02:46 PM

I've got the notes - no tape - swop/swap or whatever spelling is local? I challenge you to find it.

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 04:52 PM

John

Done!

Regards

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 06:23 AM

John

The plot thickens! I found the tape - but the song is not on it. Its the one with "Banks of the Moy" , "Omagh Town" etc etc. I recognise some, but not all, of the singers. Its possible I was given a partial copy - but I doubt it.

Regards

p.s. I'll email Brian O'Rourke for help.

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: John Moulden
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 10:43 AM

From the contents you mention this is the tape for the booklet which I have. The song under discussion is given as Side A number 3 - "The lady of Loughrea" sung by Garry McMahon.

Does that help?

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 06:51 AM

John

Only to the extent that it means the damn thing was removed! I'll get a copy to you at some stage.

Regards

Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Antaine
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 05:31 PM

Thanks lads. I've been very busy of late. So I didn't get back to the forum until now.

Antaine

Subject: RE: Lyr/info req: Strongmen from Loughrea
From: smpc
Date: 06 Aug 09 - 07:15 AM

strongmen of loughrae is part of the last line to the song 'The Lady Of Loughrae.

My heart strings make sweet music if I but think of you
And if you should call me darling I would wear a feathered shoe
I would swim the Suir or Slaney or the Shannon any day
Just to talk with you lovely lady and to walk you round Loughrae.

If I owned all Portumna the markets of Athlone
Or the wharves and all the money that belong to Limerick town
I would part them with your people if you'd let me presume
Just to talk with you lovely lady and to be your squire in Tuam.

Oh! Roseleaf maid t'is easy for to blame the wastrel now
But who was ever able for to harrow with a plough
Not reared was I for labour or to watch the seasons play
But gambling, sport and dancing that lost me my own Loughrae.

In her grey house by the water my love is dwelling still
She is the moons only daughter, oh her lamp upon the hill
She may braid her hair at evening while those who go the way
They may think it's the moon that's rising o'er the grey lake to Loughrae.

Last night abroad in London I spent my only crown
I toasted to last one and after cried tears down
I walked the lamps till morning and I heard your hark away
Oh I wish I were the red fox that you hunted round Loughrae.

Oh! Lent may last till Easter and after Summer comes
But for fasting or feasting while the sloe bush buds and blooms
The queen of hearts is lonely but the jokers still to play
Oh! I'll fight and I'll take her from you oh strong men of Loughrae.

Subject: RE: Lyr/info req: Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 08:05 PM

The above song apparently is sung under several titles:

GREY LAKE OF LOUGHREA, sung by Christy Moore, Johnny Johnston, Tony Small, et al.

LADY OF LOUGHREA, sung by Colm O'Donnell, John Ennis, et al.

...but the original title was THE PRETTY GIRLS OF LOUGHREA. The original text by the poet Padraic Fallon was posted here.

Subject: RE: Lyr/info req: Strongmen from Loughrea
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Feb 13 - 03:04 PM

Is this a line from the song Mary from Loughrea. I will rise & take her from ye, Oh Strongmen from Loughree ...