Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting

Subject: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 07:40 AM

I'm indebted to ard mhacha (as he is known in this parish) for sending me a copy of "Gaelic News" - a publication which was current for a time in Lurgan - dated August, 1948 in which appeared the lyrics for a ballad "The Derrymacash Meeting". The meeting itself was held at McGreavy's Corner, Derrymacash on Sunday 2nd October 1904.

I'm a sucker for songs which are very local (e.g. one of my favourite songs is "Coleraine Regatta" - anyone who's aware of this song will be aware how "trivial" the subject matter). It never ceases to amaze me the extent to which people were prepared to use song and verse to chronicle their lives and the extent to which these have survived down the years.

You can therefore imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to read the ballad set out below. I reprint the lyrics as set out in "Gaelic News" and say again good man, ard mhacha! Go raibh mile ...

THE DERRYMACASH MEETING
Oh Ireland you may well feel proud of Derrymacash this day
For in your ranks there can't be found more manly men than they
They love you with their Irish hearts, as all your sons should do
And with their sagart at their head, would strike a blow for you

When persecution, years ago, was raging o'er the land
When Catholics got no law at all, these brave men made a stand,
To save their little chapel being wrecked and knocked to smash
And warmed the orange and purple hides in style at Derrymacash

They made the wreckers rue that they had had the luck to come
And some down Raughlan Avenue made speedy tracks for home
Of course when things became too hot all rear-cuts were in
So those Orange bloods must be excused for running hard to win

Last Sunday at McGreavy's Hill, that old historic ground
The gallant men of North Armagh in thousands gathered round
Their loyalty to pledge anew to Ireland's holy cause
And to denounce in language strong proud England's cruel laws

God bless brave Farther McCartan, who came and took the chair
And our brilliant patriotic priest, young Father Frank O'Hare
Long may they both be o'er us spared to be our guide we pray
And share our joys and troubles too, along life's weary way

The orange magistrates of Lurgan town, a couple of weeks before
Did loudly bark and show their teeth and raise a great uproar
They thought our meetings to suppress to frighten us with bosh
But we showed them we were Irishmen that live at Derrymacash

The lamp of patriotism is burning brightly still
In Saunderson's constituency, against these bigots' will
And there it shall remain and burn, a light that never dies
Nor cannot be extinguished by orange bigotry nor lies

Brave men were there from Maghery, Aghagallon, Lurgan town
Ballinary, Derrytrasna too and orange Portadown
With pretty girls in blouses white to brighten up the scene
For they are Irish too you know and love the flag of green

Green banners floated in the breeze, green arches spanned the ways
Hibernian bands played Irish airs to poor ould Granu's praise
That day the green was raised on high, it looked both bright and fresh
'Tis a nasty pill for Saunderson – such work in Derrymacash

That brilliant Irish orator, Joe Devlin, from Belfast
And Dick McGhee, who served so well his country in the past
Were there that day and told us all in language clear and plain
That soon we'd have our country, boys, a nation once again

For near at hand upon the waves a tiny spark is seen
With the precious cargo of Home Rule for Erin's Isle so green
Oh, Irishmen, one final stand – unite, be firm and true
And God will soon that little barque, steer safely o'er to you

And when that happy day comes round how glad we all shall feel
To know we lent a helping hand, our country's wounds to heal
That when she, bruised and bleeding, lay beneath the tyrant's lash
None treated her more friendly than the sons of Derrymacash

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 10:00 AM

Derrymacash, I have a CD of The Johnstons in which Paul Brady gives a brilliant rendering of The Coleraine Regatta. Also on the subject of The Johnstons,I remember reading a few years ago that Adrienne died tragically somewhere in the US. They were great group. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 10:37 AM

I would agree with you up to a point ... that point being when they decided to go a bit "pop" and missed the point of their own genius. (Though Paul Brady has done that a few times. How anyone who can have recorded the DEFINITIVE version of Arthur McBride could have gone to produce some of the trivial stuff he has put out ...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 01:37 PM

Derrymacash,I agree, Just like Clannadd, Mary Black and a host of others. Some of Bradys later stuff was poor. Slan Ard Mhacha.Your turn.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: paddymac
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 08:27 AM

Great lyrics - what's the air?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 09:42 AM

Paddymac, There was never any air to this, but leave it awhile with Derrmacash and he will oblige.Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 09:56 AM

Well ...

If there never was an air, there's damn all harm in suggesting one.

How's about the air to Roddy McCorley?

The Rising Of The Moon? (Each verse could be elongated a bit to accommodate the slight reprise.)

The Dawning Of The Day?

Or - and at this point I'll duck and run - "The Sash"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 02:50 PM

Derrmacash, Try "The Wearing of the Green" fits to a tee. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 03:42 PM

Isn't that the same as The Rising Of The Moon.

Well ... there you go. Let's officially declare that it goes by the air of "The Wearing Of The Green"/"The Rising Of The Moon". Who knows, maybe next time I'm over home I'll drop into Freecrow or you can drop out by the Kesh and we can give it a lash.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: paddymac
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 09:45 PM

Ah, "The Sash". Isn't that the tune Tommy Makem used for his song about the bombing of Nelson's pillar back in 1966. And a grand laugh was had by all. Seems like Aine has sung a song called "Belfast Champ and Fry" (or something close to that), also to the "Sash". Politics aside, folkies of all stripes rarely have any hesitation about "borrowing" a good, singable melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 11:29 PM

G'day,

Good tune - I love those old Scots melodies. We pinched another Scots setting of a Tannahill poem for Waltzing Matilda and the tune appropriated for Wearing of the Green was likely the one in the mind of the author of The Derrymacash Meeting.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Derrymacash Meeting
From: ard mhacha
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 05:07 AM

Derrymacash, I wouldn`t be too sure about the singing bit, as I am sure you would like to retain your friendship with the people of the `Cash, [I am referring to my singing]. Bob Bolton "The Wearing of the Green" was as far removed from the composer of the "Derrmacash Meeting" as your fair land is to Ireland. I dug this out from an old 1948 publication and in all my time in and around the area of Derrymacash I have never heard this poem mentioned. We had our fair share of bards in the emerald isle who could put a verse or two to any local happening. Slan Ard Mhacha.