Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: GUEST,Conán
Date: 30 Jan 01 - 06:22 PM

Mary, you're a wee dote!
Conán

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 08:13 PM

First off, my simple thoughts on thread confusion: The beauty of Mudcat is that one question can lead to an uncovering of loads of unrelated information on songs, other than a possible similarity in title...as has happened here. It is great that mudcatters correctly identified the song you/Conán had in mind as The Woods of Drumbo. The discussion on the Old Cross of Ardboe or The Woods of Arboe is no doubt due to the original thread title... Confusion is threads happens...it's great! No doubt this thread will be referred to if either song is discussed in a new thread...

Now on to more important things...

This past weekend I was visiting a friend of mine and mentioned these song titles--ie both Drumbo and Ardboe/Arboe. He is from the Tyrone and seemed very familiar with "The Woods of Drumbo". Now that I have refreshed in my mind the details of the original inquiry (ie info on Mc Carran/Mc Carron), I shall pass the question onto my friend and see if he has any information or leads...it might take a little while, but will post a follow-up either way.

Cheers!

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: GUEST,Conán
Date: 28 Dec 00 - 04:32 PM

Brendy and JimmyC,
I've just re-read my apology and cannot understand anyone accusing me of being pissed off - which I most assuredly was not !! - unless some people are only too ready to jump down other people's throats and look for reasons where there are none.
As for not adding anything to the thread, how is it possible to add something to the discussion of a topic about which you have already confessed your ignorance by asking the question in the first place?
People's expectations of me are occasionally too high.
Conán

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Jimmy C
Date: 27 Dec 00 - 10:48 PM

Brendy, you tell it like it is son.

ConAn, this sometimes happens here, threads go in all different directions, I think its great so long as nobody gets insulted, ignored, or pissed off. You are waiting for info on McCarron, well sooner or later somebody will find out something, in the meantime be a little patient until we do more research. Happy New Year.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Brendy
Date: 27 Dec 00 - 10:21 PM

Look, Conán. You got what you wanted, didn't you?
Not that you really knew what you wanted, in the first place.

Take it easy, man. You didn't exactly contribute a whole heap to the thread; not enough to get pissed off at the way it meandered, anyway.

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: GUEST,Conán
Date: 27 Dec 00 - 10:13 PM

I'm afraid that I have inadvertantly been the instigator of a double thread. The song I had in mind was the "Woods of Drumbo" The words supplied and the history behind the incident are very welcome, but the intrusion of "Woods of Arboe" only causes confusion. Should this not have been dealt with in a separate thread? Quite apart from all this, what of the man Mc Carron from the area of the Twin Towns in East Donegal who played a prominent part in the War of Independence, apparently, but of whom no mention is made?
Conán

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: GUEST,Thingy
Date: 27 Dec 00 - 09:46 PM

How does this relate to the Scottish song "MAcPherson's Rant"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Brendy
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 10:02 PM

Great piece of research, there, Jimmy.

I remember the tune as being similar to 'The Rocks of Bawn'.

My Uncle Séamus would sing it from time to time, and although I got the words on paper (which is a moot point, really, when all's said and done), I never saw a tune written down for it, and have only my rememberances of Séamus doing it.

But I really think I should learn this song; too often we forget gems like this, in favour of the more 'well known' ballads, that present day audiences crave.

That's how songs get lost, and I'm grateful that this little pebble got stuck in your shoe, and that you persevered.

My own copy of the song should arrive sometime next month, as I mentioned to you in the PM, and I remember it was about two and a half typed foolscap pages in length (hence the 'It's only forty verses...').
It has been years since I've seen it, and since this thread started, I have been longing to see the words again.

From my recollection of them, your posting seems to be spot on.

I've got a wee pebble in my shoe, now.

Thanks, Jimmy.
And indeed, Mick, a continuing Happy ******* (insert appropriate Feast) to you all, and a prosperous New Year.

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 07:15 PM

Thanks Jimmy..

And I didn't get chance before to wish everyone a Merry Christmas

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Jimmy C
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 01:41 AM

Brendy, sorry about that, the second verse should be

Shall I ever stray by the Washing Bay
The weary trout to coy
Or set my lines in the evenings fine By the shores of deep Mountjoy
Will the summer gale e're fill my sail
Or the dim decling moon
See me tempest-tossed on the shores of Doss
Or the raging Bay of Toome

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD CROSS OF ARDBOE (John Canavan)
From: Jimmy C
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 01:35 AM

Brendy,

Thought you might be interested in the following "OLD CROSS OF ARDBOE" This was by the poet John Canavan and was originally called "The Emigrants Farewell".

Fare ye well my native green clad hills
Fare ye well my shamrock plain
Ye verdant banks of sweet Lough Neagh
And ye silvery winding streams
Though far from my home in green Tyrone
My Flora first I strayed
I adore you Killcolpy
Where I spent my boyhood days

Shall I ever see the grand old plains
Where in boyhood days I roved
Or wander through those grand old woods
With the girl I dearly loved
Shall I ever more by Lough Neagh's shore
E're pass the summer day.
Or hear again the larks sweet strain
Or hear the blackbirds pysomes play

Shall I ever rove by Belmonts grove
Or Cranan's lofty hills
Or hear again the fairy tale
Of the rath behind the mill
Will the nightingale that charms the vale
By me be heard no more
As I watched at eve the wild drake leave
For the bogs of sweet Dromore

Shall my oars e're rest on your wild wave crest
Or again see the salmon play
While sailing o'er from Tyrone's green shore
Bound for Antrim Bay
Or an autumn gale e're fill my sail
With a dim declining moon
See me tempest toss on the shores of Doss
Or the raging Bay of Toome

Shall I ne'er behold Shane's Castle bold
Or gaze on Mazzereene
Shall my cot e're land on the banks of Bann
Coney Island or Roskeen.
Shall I ever stray by the Washingbay
The weary trout to coy
Or set my line on an evening fine
Round the shores of green Mountjoy

All for you Ardboe my tears do flow
When I think and call to mind
My parents dear and friends sincere
And comrades true and kind
But I hope to graze on your flowery braes
E're seven long years come round
And hands to clasp in friendships grasp
Of those I left behind

My friends out here in America
Have all that there hearts desire
My pockets filled with dollar bills
I am dressed in teh grand attire
I would give it all for one country ball
At home by the old hearth stone
In a cabin near Lough Neagh so dear
In my own dear native home

Now hence, also long years have passed
And I'll toast that beautiful isle,
That soon and long o'er that land of song
A star of peace may smile
May plenty bloom from te Bann to Toome
And the shamrock verdant grow
Green o'er my grave by Lough Neagh's wave
Near the Old Cross of Ardboe.

The original 8 verses above were shortened and combined to the following 4, and somehow the title was changed to " The Old Cross of Ardboe"
Some of the wording was changed also

Fare ye lovely green clad hills
Farewell ye shamrocks green
Ye verdant banks of deep Lough Neagh
With your silvery winding streams
Though far from my home in green Tyrone
Aye far from you I've strayed
I adore you Killcolpy
Where I spent my childhood days

Shall I ever stray by the Washing Bay
The weary trout to coy
Or set my lines in the evenings fine
By the shores of deep MountjoyOr the raging Bay of Toome

Shall I ever rove by Belmonts grove
Or Cranan's lofty hills
Or hear again the fairy tale
Of the rath behind the mill
Shall I ne'er behold Shane's Castle bold
Or gaze on Mazzereene
Shall my cot e're land on the banks of Bann
Coney Island or Roskeen

And though alas, long years have passed
Still I toast that beauteous isle,
And short or long on that land of song
May the star of freedom smile
May plenty bloom from the Bann to Toome
And the shamrocks verdant grow
Green round those graves near Lough Neagh's waves
And the Old Cross of Ardboe.

enjoy

Slan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Jimmy C
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 03:25 PM

Brendy,
you're welcome,
I would still like to see the words to the one that starts

- "Farewell you verdant green-clad hills".

Slan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Brendy
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 02:27 AM

A fine Lyric Addition, Jimmy.
Nice one.

B.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WOODS OF DRUMBO
From: Jimmy C
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 02:23 AM

ConAn, just found some extra time so here you go.

THE WOODS OF DRUMBO

Twas the eve of St.Patrick,at the dawn of the day
The hills of Tirconnell, lay slumbering and gray
The first light of morning illumined the sky
As four Irish heroes were lead forth to die

They were Enright, O'Donnell and Dawly by name
From the counties of Cork and from Kerry they came
While the gallant Stan Larkin from the banks of the Roe
Completes the four martyrs shot dead at Drumbo

These four Irish soldiers were dragged from their cell
For months they had suffered the torments of hell
No mercy they asked from their merciless foe
And no mercy was shown by the thugs at Drumbo

Three left their homesteads in Kerry's green vale
And one came from Derry to fight for the Gael
But instead of true friends they met traitor and foe
And uncoffined were laid in the woods of Drumbo

The church bells rang out in the cool morning air
To summon the faithful to penance and prayer
When a shot from the wild wood brought terror and woe
'Twas the death knell of Dawly, shot dead at Drumbo

Let Tireconnel ne'er boast of her honour and fame
All the waters of Finn will not wash out the stain
While the Foyle and the Swilly continue to flow
The stain will remain on the woods of Drumbo

Slan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Jimmy C
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 02:09 AM

ConAn,

I will get you the words soon, before the end of next week for sure.

Brendy,

Thanks for the article about the executions, it's great to get this type of information.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Brendy
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 10:12 PM

Well, Conán, the words are out there somewhere. But the story of the executions is here - click here -

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: GUEST,Conán
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 09:52 PM

"Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!", to coin a phrase. Of course, the song is "The Woods of Drumbo." How could I have been so stupid!!!
Apologies, folks.
Conán

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 08:48 PM

Thanks guys...
I wait with bated breath
Cheers

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Jimmy C
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 03:36 PM

Brendy,

No word from my Brother in Ardboe yet, he never was one for writing or phoning. It looks like you are on the right track. Looking forward to seeing the words posted. The tune would be nice to have also,

Slan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Brendy
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 02:11 PM

Hello folks.

Well, I got to yer man's house who had the copy of the song, and lo and behold, he was off playing in the States for a few months.
His missus told me that she would get him to send the copy of the song off to me when he got home (sometime after Christmas).
It'll arrive eventually, but it is not the song that is in the O'Lochlainn collection; that much I do know.
If memory serves me right, it starts with the line:

"Farewell you verdant green-clad hills".

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Wolfgang
Date: 05 Nov 00 - 04:42 AM

If Jimmy's right, that song is in Colm O Lochlainn's 'More Irish street ballads'.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 08:38 PM

I'm beginning to think that the old cross at Arboe has been pulled down

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 08:12 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Jimmy C
Date: 29 Oct 00 - 09:43 PM

ConAn,

Sorry but I meant to add this to my last response re " The Woods of Ardboe" - There is a Donegal song called "The Woods of Drumbo", could this be the one by any chance. It commemorates 4 members of a flying column who were shot by Free State troopers near Stranorlar, Co Donegal.There names were Enright, O'Donnell, Dawly and Larkin. They came from Kerry, Cork and Derry, I will still search for the Ardboe one anyway.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Jimmy C
Date: 29 Oct 00 - 09:33 PM

Brendy - let us know when you have the lyrics. If not I maty be able to get them from my brother. He lives on the Ardboe road about 100 yards from the Old Cross. He's not very interested in music but I'm sure he could find the words. I did hear a tune played on the flute called the "Woods of Ardboe" at a funeral mass in the church at Ardboe whe I was home one time visiting the same brother, it was hauntingly beautiful, I did not know there was a song about it, I will follow up on this as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 29 Oct 00 - 06:03 PM

Yep...me nagging again...

Any luck yet Brendy????

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 15 Oct 00 - 04:52 AM

Brendy

Just checking to see whether you managed to find the lyrics and the time to type them all up.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 29 Sep 00 - 08:46 PM

Yes, sir, you will, Mick....like you've got nothing better to do. LOL

Can't wait to see the lyrics myself--the title caught my attention.

Cheers everyone!

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 02:08 PM

Cheers Brendy...
I'll look forward to while away the long cold winter nights engrossed in it's 40 verses..

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Brendy
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 08:27 PM

I'll be over home in a couple of weeks, Mick.

I used to have a copy of the words in an old song book, but I think I left it in Clare, before I came over here.
I know where to get them, though.
When I do, I'll post them

It's only forty verses, and it wont detain you long!!

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 06:00 PM

Brendy
Did you ever get the lyrics from your Grandfather for "The Old Cross of Ardboe"?... I'd be interested to see them for one...

Cheers
Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Jun 00 - 03:14 AM

I've been asking a few questions here and there, Conán.
Nothin' yet.
Refresh.

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Conán
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 02:50 PM

No connection. the song isd situated in East Donegal. Conán

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Woods of Arboe
From: Brendy
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 03:59 AM

Is that Ardboe (Arboe) in Co. Tyrone at the top of the Lough, Conán?
My Grandfather visited Boston at the beginning of the 1900's, and came back with a song called 'The Old Cross of Ardboe'. I don't have the words here, but do you have any more info? I might be able to find out something more about it, as there's a few Ardboe songs knocking about!

B.

Subject: Woods of Arboe
From: Conán
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 08:36 PM

This song is widely known in East Donegal and in some parts of the Six Counties. Howevewr, there was a famous young man by the name of Mc Carran from the region who had a song written about him. Has anyone any information on same ? Conán