Lyr Req/Add: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee

Subject: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporeen
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 12:31 PM

I wasn't too sure of the proper spelling....

anyway...

Have had an email inquiry about this song, especially, if lyrics could be found. The requester wasn't sure if it was the correct title and no lyric snippets were given. All that was mentioned was that this person's grandfather used to sing said song.

Any takers?

Thanks bunches!

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: MMario
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 12:38 PM

Didn't find the lyrics - but found a song sheet called OULD HIGGIN'S BALL sung to the air: The Wedding of Ballyporeen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: GUEST,Bruce O
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 12:51 PM

"The Wedding of/at Ballyporeen", and several other songs, were sung to the tune of "Balinamona Ora" [See Irish tune index on my website.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 30 Aug 00 - 12:54 PM

The song is on the Bodley Ballads website (Mudcat's Links)

Subject: Lyr Add: DONEGAN'S DAUGHTER (Percy French)
From: Jimmy C
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 03:09 PM

This is a song by Percy French titled " Donegans Daughter" about an Irishmnan coming home to Ballyporeen from the states with his glamourous daughter - could this be the one you need.?, I will post it anyway just in case.

DONEGAN'S DAUGHTER

when Donegan came from the States
Himself and his daughter were seen
Parading the principal streets
of beautiful Ballyporeen
Her cheeks were as red as a rose,
Her hair was a beautiful brown
And the lads I suppose
were as thick now as crows
All tied to the heel of her gown

CHORUS : There were short men and long men
And weak men and strong men
And right men and wrong men
were all to be seen
But Donegan's daughter from over the water
she gave them no quarter in Ballyporeen

She sang the most beautiful songs
Of the words we have never a hint
For her fingers went hammer and tongs
In a running accompaniment
Like a dog running after a rat
such scrimmaging never was heard
Then down went her claws, like a murdering cat
When it leaps on the back of a bird

CHORUS: At every party, she sang them all forte
From Ah, Che la Morte
to the wearing of green
Oh Donegan's daughter from over the water
'Twas little they taught her in Ballyporeen

The Geraghtys gave a grand ball
The girls were all ribbon and tape
But Miss Donegan bested them all
With her perfectly wonderful shape
And when she was taking the floor
With a high-stepping bachelor boy
The rest of us scowled in the doorway and growled
That 'twas him we would surely destroy

CHORUS: There was kissing and squeezing
and coaxing and teasing
And sure there's no reason
Such things should be seen
But Donegan's daughter from over the water
'Twas she made the slaughter
In Ballyporeen

Coming home we were crossing a stream
I thought to beleaguer the belle;
A struggle, a kiss and a scream
And into the water we fell
To me that can swim like a trout
Twas only a trifling reverse
But when she came out,
Faith there wasn't much doubt
She was changed very much for the worse

CHORUS: For her roses had wilted
Her wig it was tilted
The figure she'd built, it
was washed away clean
Oh! Donegan's daugter
from under the water
Two pins would have bought her
in Ballyporeen

Enjoy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 09:31 PM

Thanks for the fast replies.

I think it is more than likely the song found at Bodleian Broadsides but I will mention "Donegans Daughter" as well.

Cheers,

Mary

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WEDDING OF BALLYPOREEN
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 03:43 AM

The melody "The Wedding of Ballyporeen" is aka "Balinamona Oro" per my particular O'Neill's publication...

Thanks again!

Mary

here are they lyrics:

THE WEDDING OF BALLYPOREEN
Air: Ballinamona Ora (Air aka The Wedding of Ballyporeen)
Lyrics transcribed from "Poet's Box" songsheet dated
11th Sept. 1852
(source: Bodleian Broadside Ballads site:
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/ballads/ )

Descend, ye chaste Nine, to a true Irish bard;
You're old maids, to be sure, but he sends you a card,
To beg you'll assist a poor musical elf,
With a song ready made--he'll compose it himself--
About maids, boys, a priest, and a wedding,
With a crowd you could scarce thrust your head in,
A supper, good cheer, and a bedding,
Which happened at Ballyporeen.

'Twas a fine summer's morn, about twelve in the day,
When the birds 'gan to sing, and the asses to bray,
That Patrick the bridegroom, and Onagh the bride,
In their best bibs and tuckers, set off side by side;
O the piper play'd first in the rear sir;
The maids blushed, the bridesmen did swear sir;
O Lord how the spaleens did stare sir,
At this wedding of Ballyporeen.

They were soon tacked together, and home did return.
To make merry the day at the sign of the "Churn,"
When they sat down together, a frolicsome troop;
O the banks of old Shannon ne'er saw such a group.
There were turf-cutters, thrashers, and tailors,
With harpers, and pipers, and nailors,
And pedlars, and smugglers, and sailors,
Assembled at Ballyporeen.

There was Bryan Macdermot, and Shaghnessy's brat,
With Terrence and Driscol, and Platterfaced Pat;
There was Norah Macormick, and Bryan O'Lynn,
And the fa, red-hair'd cook-maid who lives at the inn;
There was Sheelah and Larry the genius,
With Pat's uncle, old Darby Dennis,
Black Thady, and crooked Macgennis,
Assembled at Ballyporeen.

Now the bridegroom sat down for to make an oration,
And he charmed all their souls, with his kind botheration;
They were welcome, he said, and he swore, and he curs'd,
They might eat till they swell'd, and might drink till they burst.
The first christening I have, if I thrive, sirs,
I hope you all hither will drive, sirs,
You'll be welcome all, dead or alive, sirs,
To a christening at Ballyporeen.

Then the bride she got up all to make a low bow,
But she twitter'd and felt so--she could not tell how;
She blush'd and she stammer'd--the few words she let fall,
She whisper'd so low that she bother'd them all;
But her mother cried, "What, are you dead, child!
O, for shame of you, hold up your head, child!
Though I'm sixty, I wish I was wed, child--
O I'd rattle all Ballyporeen."

Now they sat down to meat--Father Murphy said grace;
Smoking hot were the dishes, and eager each face;
The knives and forks rattled, spoons and platters did play,
And they elbow'd and jostled, and wallop'd away.
Rumps, chines, and fat sirloins did groan, sirs,
Whole mountains of beef were cut down, sirs,
They demolished all to the bare bone, sirs,
At this wedding of Ballyporeen.

There were bacon and greens--but the turkey was spoiled;
Potatoes dressed both ways, both roasted and boil'd;
Hogs' puddings, red herrings--the priest got the snipe
Culcannon pies, dumplings, cods, cowheels and tripe.
Then they eat till they could eat no more, sirs,
And the whisky came pouring galore, sirs;
O how Terry Macmanus did roar, sirs,
O he bother'd all Ballyporeen.

Now the whisky went round, and the songsters did roar;
Tim sung "Paddy O'Kelly"--Nell sung "Molly Asthore;"
'Till a motion was made that their songs they'd forsake,
And each lad take his sweetheart their trotters to shake;
Then the piper and couples advancing,
Pumps, brogues, and barefeet fell a prancing;
Such piping, such figuring and dancing,
Was never known at Ballyporeen.

Now Patrick the bridegroom, and Onagh the bride,
Let the harp of old Ireland be sounded with pride;
And to all the brave guests, young or old, grey or green,
Drunk or sober, that jigged it at Ballyporeen!
And when Cupid shall lend you his wherry,
To trip o'er the conjugal ferry,
I wish you may be half so merry,
As we were at Ballyporeen.
^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 04:16 PM

Now, do you need the tune for "The Wedding at Ballyporeen"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 04:35 PM

"The Wedding at Ballyporeen" seems to date from the 1st decade of the 19th century. There's a copy in 'The Songster's Museum', p. 73, Gosport [180x], and in 'Oliver's Choice Selection of Comic Songs', p. 46, Edinburgh, 1807.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 04:34 AM

Bruce, luckily I had the music for the tune in one of my books.

I was amazed with how many copies and versions were available on Bodleian's. The above was the only one I could make out all the words to...

Mary

Subject: Lyr Req: Looking for -The Wedding at Ballyporeen
From: GUEST,Brian M
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 01:00 PM

Hello...I'm looking for a Song or recitation called the Wedding of Ballyporeen..It's very old.My Grandfather who was from near there
(in Tipperary)can remember a few Words..It starts with
"Descend ye----Nine,to a True Irish Bard".....
Any Help will be greatly appreciated..

---

I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 01:27 PM

Is there a midi around for Balinamina Ora?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/Balyporee
From: GUEST,BrianM
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 07:34 PM

Thank You very much!!!
Cheers,
Brian

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Wedding at Ballyporeen/
From: GEST
Date: 25 May 05 - 01:04 PM

And then there is the Newfoundland variant....

From GEST Songs Of Newfoundland And Labrador

The Wedding At Ballyporeen

Listen and give air to a true Irish bard,
You are old maids, to be sure, but I'll send you a card,
For to beg you assist a poor musical elf,
With a song ready-made, I composed it myself,
About maids, boys, a priest, and a wedding,
With a crowd you could scarce trust your head in,
A supper, good cheer, and a bedding,
Which happened at Ballyporeen.

'Twas a fine summer's morning 'bout twelve in the day,
When the birds started singing, they asked us to pray,
When Patrick the bridegroom and Nora the bride,
In their best bib and tuckers set out side by side;
And the pipers played first in their air, sir,
Ah, the maids blush, the bridegroom did swear,
Oh, Lord how the spalpeens did stir,
At the wedding of Ballyporeen.

They were soon tacked together and home did return,
To make merry the day at the Sign Of The Churn,
And they sat down together, the frolicsome troop,
Oh, the banks of the Shannon ne'er saw such a group;
There was turf-cutters, thrashers, and tailors,
There was fifers, and fiddlers, and alers,
There was peddlers, and smugglers, and sailors,
Assembled at Ballyporeen.

There was Brian McDermott and Shaughnessy's brat,
There was Terrence, and Tristle, and platter-faced Pat,
There was Nolan McCormack and Brian O'Lynn,
And the fat, red-haired housemaid that lived at the inn;
There was Sheila and Larry the genius,
With Pat's uncle, old Darby Dennis,
Black Teddy and crooked McGuinness,
Assembled at Ballyporeen.

Now, they sat down to meat, Father Murphy said grace,
Smoking' hot was the dishes and egg o'er each face,
The knives and forks rattled, spoons and platters did play,
And they elbowed, and jostled, and walloped away;
Rumps, shins, and fat sirloins did grunt, sir,
While mountains of beef were cut down,
They demolished all but the bare bones,
At the wedding of Ballyporeen.

There was bacon and greens, oh, the turkeys got spoiled,
There're potatoes dressed both ways, both roasted and boiled,
Hot pudding, red herrings, the priest cut the snipe,
Colcannon, fried dumplings, cod, cow, eel, and tripe;
And they eat till they could eat no more, sir,
And the whiskey came pouring galore,
How Terry McManus did roar,
Sure, he bothered all Ballyporeen.

Then the whiskey went 'round, and the songsters did roar,
Tim sung Paddy O'Kelly, Nell sung Molly Astor,
Till a motion was made and their songs they forsake,
And each lad took his sweetheart their trotters to shake;
With fifers and fiddlers advancing,
Pumps, brogues, bare feet kept a-prancing,
Such fifing, and fiddling, and a-dancing,
Was never seen at Ballyporeen.

Now, the bride she got up and she made a low bow,
And she twittered and felt so she couldn't tell how;
She blushed and she stammered, a few words let fall,
And she whispered so low that she bothered them all;
And her mother cried, "What are ye dead, child?
Ah, for goodness sake hold up your head, child;
I'm sixty, I wish I was wed,
And I'd rattle old Ballyporeen.

The bridegroom got up and he made an oration,
He charmed their souls with his kind botheration;
"You're welcome," he said, and he swore, and he cursed,
"You might eat till you swell, you might drink till you burst;
The first christening I'll have, if I strive,
I hope you all hither will drive,
You're all welcome both dead and alive,
At the christening of Ballyporeen."

Now did Patrick, the bridegroom, and Nora, the bride,
Let the harp of old Ireland be sounded with pride;
And to all the brave guests, young or old, grey or green,
Drunk or sober, the dance to at Ballyporeen.
And if cupid will lend you his worry,
To trip o'er that conjugal ferry,
I hope you'll be all as so merry,
As we were at Ballyporeen.

####.... Variant of a broadside ballad sung to the tune of Balinamora Ora, and published as early as 1807 in Oliver's Choice Selection Of Comic Songs, p.46, Edinburgh, Scotland ....####

Sung by Jack Swain (b.1892) of Calvert, NL, and published as Bally Poreen in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).

Note: Ballyporeen is near Cahir in County Tipperary, Ireland.

From the Dictionary Of Newfoundland English:
Colcannon - An Irish dish consisting of a mixture or hash of cabbage and various vegetables or meat eaten on Colcannon Night, or Halloween, in St. John's, NL