Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth

Subject: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: AmyLove
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 07:05 PM

I'm looking for a recording I can purchase which includes the song Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth. Today I listened to Dave O'Connor sing this song here (ITMA). Interestingly, as I searched for a recording of this song, I learned here and here that O'Connor performed the song today.

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: AmyLove
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 07:59 PM

Here are the lyrics as sung by O'Connor:

You matchless nine, to my aid incline,
And assist my genius whilst I declare
My lovesick pain for a beauteous dame,
Whose killing charms did me ensnare :
Sly little Cupid has knocked me stupid ;
In grief I mourn, for upon my oath ;
My frame's declining, I'm so repining
For Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth.

She is tall and slender, both young and tender ;
She is modest, mild, and so sublime ;
For education in Erin's nation
There is none to equal this nymph divine ;
I wish to gain her, but I can't obtain her,
I would fondly court her, but still I'm loath,
Lest I should tease her or once displease her,
Sweet Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth.

At seventeen this maid serene
My heart attracted, I must allow ;
I thought her surely a goddess purely,
Or some bright angel, and that I vow ;
Since that I languish, my mind's in anguish,
A deep decline it has curbed my growth ;
My frame's declining, I'm so repining
For Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth.

In all Olympus I'm sure no nymph is,
To equal her that I do admire ;
Her charming features surpass nature ;
Alas, she has set my heart on fire ;
She exceeds Flora, and bright Aurora,
And beauteous Venus from the briny froth ;—
I'm captivated—I do repeat it—
By Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth.

Each lovely morning young men come swarming
To view this charmer taking the air ;
She is so enchanting, they are all panting
To gain her favour, I do declare ;
But still they're fearful, and in no way cheerful,
The greatest hero you'll find him loath,
Don't dare entreat her or supplicate her,
So bright an angel is the pride of Howth.

I will stop my writing and my inditing,
I see it's useless for me to fret ;
One pound of trouble, or sorrow double,
Will ne'er atone for one ounce of debt ;
I'll resign courting and all like sporting,
Cupid and Hymen, I'll shun them both,
And raise my mind from all female kind—
So adieu, sweet Hannah, the pride of Howth !

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 04:00 AM

It's in O Lochlainn's "More Irish Street Ballads", taken from Sparling's "Irish Minstrelsy". I think Dave (the only person I've heard sing it) may hsve changed the tune. I know of no commercial recording.

Regards

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 09:30 AM

This is one of several hundred songs written by John Sheil, Sheil the poet, of Drogheda, and printed on ballad sheets and in small song books, including several volumes of Sheil's Love Songs and several more, Sheil's Shamrock, which contain patriotic songs. He is sometimes confused with Richard Lalor Sheil and Irish poet and politician.

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: AmyLove
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 08:53 PM

Thanks for the information, both of you.

Martin, yes, I got the lyrics from Irish Minstrelsy and adapted them to O'Connor's performance. I should have mentioned that in the post.

It's such a fun song. I'm surprised it hasn't appeared on any commercial recordings.

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 20 - 04:12 PM

I got to hear David O'Connor sing this online from Dublin. Wonderful. The melody he uses is the tune for Behan's "The Old Triangle." Is there a more standard name for the melody?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 01 May 20 - 06:51 PM

From 1887, halfway down p.245.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=zyDi4A2AaxcC&pg=PA245&lpg=PA245&dq=You+matchless+nine,+to+my+aid+incline,+And+assist+my+genius+

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 01 May 20 - 07:07 PM

"From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 04:00 AM"

My apologies to Martin. I just recognized he mentioned the publication four years back. Sorry. If someone wants to erase my two posts to this thread, please do.

Subject: ADD: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 20 - 02:20 AM

HANNA HEALY, THE PRIDE OF HOWTH
(John Sheil)

You matchless nine, to my aid incline,
And assist my genius whilst I declare
My lovesick pain for a beauteous dame,
Whose killing charms did me ensnare;
Sly little Cupid has knocked me stupid;
In grief I mourn, for upon my oath;
My frame's declining, I'm so repining
For Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth.

She's tall and slender, both young and tender;
She's modest, mild, and she's all sublime;
For education in Erin's nation
There's none to equal this nymph divine;
I wish to gain her, but can't obtain her,
I'd fondly court her, but yet I'm loath,
Lest I should tease her or once displease her,
Sweet Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth.

At seventeen this maid serene
My heart attracted, I must allow;
I thought her surely a goddess purely,
Or some bright angel in truth I vow;
Since that I languish, my mind's in anguish,
A deep decline it has curbed my growth;
None can relieve me, then you can believe me,
But Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth.

In all Olympus I'm sure no nymph is,
To equal her that I do admire;
Her lovely features surpasses nature;
Alas, they set my poor heart on fire;
She exceeds Flora, or bright Aurora,
Or beauteous Venus from the briny froth;—
I'm captivated—I do repeat it—
By Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth.

Each lovely morning young men keep swarming
To view this charmer taking the air;
She is so enchanting, they are all panting
To gain her favour, I do declare;
But still they're fearful, and in no way cheerful,
The greatest hero you'll find him loath,
Nor dare entreat her or supplicate her,
So bright an angel is the pride of Howth.

I'll stop my writing and my enditing,
I see it's useless for me to fret;
A pound of trouble, or sorrow double,
Will ne'er atone for an ounce of debt;
I'll resign courting and all like sporting,
Cupid and Hymen, I'll shun them both,
And raise my mind from all female kind—
So adieu, sweet Hannah, the pride of Howth!

Source: Irish Ministrelsy: Being a Selection of Irish Songs, Lyrics, & Ballads:, edited by Henry Halliday Sparling, published by Walter Scott, 1887 - page 245

https://books.google.ca/books?id=zyDi4A2AaxcC&pg=PA245&lpg=PA245#v=onepage&q&f=false

---

The lyrics are almost exactly the same in More Irish Street Ballads by Colm O'Lochlainn, No 93. - but I will post the melody later.

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 02 May 20 - 03:46 AM

The air Dave uses is best known as “The Galway Shawl” - with, I think, one slight change.

I missed hearing him sing it last night. The Zoom Room was packed and I had to queue for entry! Great session of wonderful songs.

Regards

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 20 - 03:25 PM

Ah, that's what I was trying to think of.

And "Old Triangle" also uses the melody for "Galway Shawl" - right, Martin?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Hannah Healy, the pride of Howth
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 02 May 20 - 04:39 PM

Yes, Joe. Basically, The Galway Shawl is done as a waltz - the others aren't!

Regards