Lyr Req: Brig o Doon Today

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brig o Doon Today
From: GUEST,SB
Date: 01 Sep 20 - 07:06 AM

Great history and back story - thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brig o Doon Today
From: GUEST,Iains
Date: 01 Sep 20 - 03:51 AM

Roddy McCorley was the son of a miller and was born near Toome in the parish of Duneane, County Antrim.
A letter published in the Belfast Newsletter a few days after McCorley's execution gave an account of the execution and how McCorley was viewed by some. In it he is called Roger McCorley, which may be his proper Christian name.

    "Upon Friday last, a most awful procession took place here, namely the execution of Roger McCorley who was lately convicted at a court-martial, to the place of execution, Toome Bridge, the unfortunate man having been born in that neighbourhood.

    As a warning to others, it is proper to observe that the whole of his life was devoted to disorderly proceedings of every kind, for many years past, scarcely a Quarter-sessions occurred but what the name of Roger McCorley appeared in a variety of criminal cases.

    His body was given up to dissection and afterwards buried under the gallows…thus of late we have got rid of six of those nefarious wretches who have kept this neighbourhood in the greatest misery for some time past, namely, Stewart, Dunn, Ryan, McCorley, Caskey and the notorious Dr. Linn."
The newspaper article quoted may well have a political motivation and be embellished in part as another source   below   suggests:

"The Newsletter report makes interesting reading. Obviously propaganda issued by the authorities, it nevertheless reveals that the reason for McCorley’s execution appears to have been that he was part of Archer’s gang that had robbed people in the Ballymena and Toome area over a period of time. There’s no mention of any connection with the United Irishmen whatsoever (nor am I aware of any other evidence that shows he was connected to them)."

The other thing to remember is that hardly any United Irishmen were sentenced to death, apart from a handful of well-known leaders (McCracken, Wolfe Tone etc). The rank and file were pardoned and the middle-ranking officers booted off to the colonies or America. So if he was a United Irishmen, he wasn’t likely to be sentenced to death for that anyway. It also explains why he was betrayed. (He was hiding in a cot on the banks of the Bann). The locals in Toome were sick of him. So there’s no evidence that he was a United Irishman at all. But we never let the facts get in the way of a good story or song in Ireland.."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roddy McCorley, Toomebridge
From: Felipa
Date: 31 Aug 20 - 05:57 PM

Bridge of Toome, County Antrim

There is a Tuam (not Taum!) in Co. Galway, and maybe both placenames derive from a common source, but Toome is the spelling for the lyrics of Roddy McCorley.

I just checked the DT (digital tradition) and the spelling of Toome is correct there.

https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=5027

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brig o Doon Today
From: GUEST,SB
Date: 29 Aug 20 - 04:23 PM

Brilliant - that's the one - Roddy McCorley (The Bridge of Taum).

It was an Irish rebel song sung by a couple of Glaswegians on London Folk Song Cellar!!

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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brig o Doon Today
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Aug 20 - 01:49 PM

Is this the one?

Oh see the fleet foot host of men who sped with faces wan
from Farmsead and from Fisher's Scot down to the Banks of Bann
They come with vengeance in their eyes too last, too late are they
for young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the Bridge of Taum (toom) today

up the narrow street he steps smiling proud and young
about that hemp rope 'round his neck, his golden ringlets clung
there was ne're a tear in his blue eyes, both glad and bright are they
for young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the Bridge of Taum today

when he last stepped up that street, his shining pike in hand
behind him marches in grim array a stalward honest band
for Antrim Town, for Antrim Town, he led them to the fray
for young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the Bridge of Taum today

There was ne're a one of all your dead so bravely fell in fray
as he who marches to his death on the bridge of Taum today
true to the last, true to the last, he treads the upward way
and young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the Bridge of Taum today

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brig o Doon Today
From: Snuffy
Date: 29 Aug 20 - 01:40 PM

Sounds like Roddy McCorley(sp??)

Subject: Lyr Req: Brig o Doon Today
From: GUEST,SB
Date: 29 Aug 20 - 01:18 PM

Irish Rebel Song - Brig O Doon Today / Brid O Doon Today / Bridge O Doon Today - can't find it. Robin hall and Jimme MacGregor used to sing it.

Please what is it. Thanks.