Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 09:47 AM

In his post from 24 Apr 08 - 08:18 AM, Jim Dixon mentions singer Garry McMahon.

This morning, in the aftermath of the Fleadh in ennis, I picked up a 1975-ish Comhaltas tour lp (CL 11) which has a recording of Garry singing the Lovely Lady of Loughrea.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: AmyLove
Date: 13 Mar 16 - 03:05 AM

The lyrics to THE LADY OF LOUGHREA which Jim Dixon posted include the words "feathered shoe," so presumably that is the song the OP wanted, and the lyrics I posted have some clear similarities with those he posted. Compare this stanza from his post:

If I owned all Portumna or the markets of Athlone,
Or the wharves and all the money that belong to Limerick town,
I would part them to your people, if you'd let me presume
Just to walk with you, lovely lady, and to be your Squire in Tuam.

with this stanza from my post:

If I had Portumna and Louisborough town,
Limerick with division, and Dublin all round,
I'd part with it all for the sake of you, my dear,
To consult with my darling for a long day and a year.

And of course the song titles are similar, so, yes, I believe the lyrics Dixon posted and the ones I posted are from two versions of the same song -- the song the OP wanted. And the song I heard on Raidió na Gaeltachta today which I'm seeking information about is yet another version of the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Mar 16 - 01:29 AM

No mention of anything "feathered" - is this the song the OP wanted?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: AmyLove
Date: 13 Mar 16 - 12:06 AM

I heard a version of this song on Raidió na Gaeltachta today, with lyrics in Irish and English. I think the first name of the singer is Jimmy, but I'm not sure what his last name is -- it sounded Italian almost -- like Venuti or something like that, but with more syllables. Anyway, I noted down some of the English lyrics and found this:


THE LOUGHREA LASSES

Dá mba liomsa Port Omna agus Baile Locha Riabhach,
Luimneach na long agus contae Bhaile Atha Cliath,
Ar do mhuintir dothabharfainn leath agus a thrian,
Ag dúil dul i gcleamhnas leat lá fada agus bliain.

If I had Portumna and Louisborough town,
Limerick with division, and Dublin all round,
I'd part with it all for the sake of you, my dear,
To consult with my darling for a long day and a year.

Nelly Bán suigh lámh liom, a chumann gheal mo chroí,
Leag mo lámh ar do bhráid nó ní mhairfidh mé beo bliain,
Agus shnámhfainn an tSiúir is an tSionnainn gheal ina diaidh,
Thug sí an barr léi ó mhná deasa Bhaile Locha Riabhach.

Nelly Bawn sit hard by me, my own heart's delight,
Leave my heart on your bosom or I'll not live a night,
And I'd swim the lovely Suir and the Shannon after thee,
Among all the Loughrea lassies your equals I can't see.

B'fhearr liom ná capall is dá n-áireoinn a shrian,
Nó fáltas na páirce go ritheann air an fia,
Nó a dtáinig de bháid ó Phort Láirge le bliain,
Ná go dtráchtfainn ar mhná deasa Bhaile Locha Riabhach.

I'd rather than a horse or a bridle to steer,
Than the gains of the field when we run for the deer,
Than all the boats of the harbour of Waterford this year,
That I mentioned the names of Loughrea lasses here.

Má thagann tú go Calainn gur aoibhinn a hamharc,
Beir mo bheannacht leat 'dtí m'Valentine ó tá sí i bhfad uaim,
Ionad coinne bhí eadrainn sna sléibhte dubha ó thuaidh,
Gurb í an tSionna gheal do choinnigh mé, a bhí lán go dtí a bruach.

Farewell to sweet Collan, 'tis a very pretty place,
'Tis there you'll see my Valentine, I long to see her face,
The mountain being so high and I so far away,
'Tis the Shannon's roaring water that caused me to stay.

Tá mo bhás ar mun bauthir ein mhoyau boouve,
Tá mo bhás ar mun bauthir ein bibayaus groug
Tá mo bhás ar mun bauthir ein neeyaus thuam,
Tá mo bhás ar mun nein ma valcutino wouim

The lily of the valley, and the flowers of the vine,
You may come to my burial now if you've a mind,
My corpse will be laid out and the women they will cry,
'Tis the kiss I got last Sunday that caused me to die.


Link to these lyrics here.


The first English lyrics in the version I heard are, I believe:


Oh, Molly Bawn, sit by my side, my giant heart delight
Oh, lay your head upon me, or I won't live the night
[not sure -- something like -- Our rides with the river siúl] and the Shannon after thee
If I could be in love with you a long day and a year


If anyone knows who sang this version and the exact name of it, please let me know. Thanks so much.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: MartinRyan
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:49 AM

So, harking back to my posting in 2005, I had the wrong Fallon (Gabriel was an actor/producer) - no relation. Sorry.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:22 AM

The same song was previously posted, with minor differences, under the title THE GREY LAKE OF LOUGHREA.

Subject: Lyr Add: LADY OF LOUGHREA
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:18 AM

Lyrics and introductory note copied from the sheet music at the web site of The Sligo Traditional Singers Circle:

I first heard this song sung by Garry McMahon at a Fleadh in Newcastle West back in the early '60s. At that stage, when good songs could only be obtained by diligent collecting, Garry had a large repertoire of fine and rare songs. THE LADY OF LOUGHREA was written by Padraig Fallon, a well-known poet of the 1940-'60 period. I believe it was inspired by the ideas and motifs of a Gaelic song, "Tá mo theach ar an ardán."

LADY OF LOUGHREA

1. My heart-strings make sweet music if I but think of you,
And if you should call me darling, I would wear a feathered shoe.
I would swim the Suir or Slaney, or the Shannon any day,
Just to talk with you, lovely lady, and to walk you round Loughrea.

2. If I owned all Portumna or the markets of Athlone,
Or the wharves and all the money that belong to Limerick town,
I would part them to your people, if you'd let me presume
Just to walk with you, lovely lady, and to be your Squire in Tuam.

3. Oh, rose-leaf maid, 'tis easy for to blame the wastrel now,
But who was ever able for to harrow with a plough?
Not reared was I for labour or to watch the seasons play,
But gambling, sport, and dancing, that lost me my own Loughrea.

4. In her grey house by the water, my love is dwelling still.
She is the moon's only daughter, oh, her lamp upon the hill.
She may braid her hair at evening, while those who go the way,
They may think it's the moon that's rising o'er the grey lake of Loughrea.

5. Last night, abroad in London, I spent my only crown.
I toasted my own one, and after, cried tears down.
I walked the lamps till morning and I heard your "hark away."
I wished I were the red fox that you hunted round Loughrea.

6. Oh! Lent will last till Easter, and after, summer comes;
But fasting or feasting, when the sloe-bush buds and blooms,
The queen of hearts is lonely, but the joker's still to play.
I will lead and I'll take her from you, O strong men of Loughrea.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: Frank_Finn
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 02:16 PM

Go to Sligo Traditional Singers website
Follow the songs link. The lyrics and notes are there

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,Brien
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 11:38 PM

I have a friend who is from Loughrea and have heard another friend sing a snatch of a song to her about a woman from Loughrea to the tune of a O'Carollan tune. If this sounds like it might be the culprit, I could track him down.

Brien

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 06:28 PM

There is a song caalled 'The Lass Of Loch Royal' (could be a derivitive) aboot a lassie done doon by the Lord Of The Manor after promisin' her the world and then ditchin' her after he's had his way (the swine)

It gans

Do you remember Lord Gregory when we sat at the wine
We exchanged rings, my love and, aye! The best was mine

Aa've got aall the words somewhere but the song is on 'Silly Sisters' by June tabor &Maddy Prior

If it's the one lerruz knaah

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 01:58 PM

There was an earlier thread (about a year ago now, maybe) on a song with title "The Grey Lady of Lough Rea", or maybe "The Grey Lake of LoughRea", in which the lines mentioned by by the last three posters occur. Try keying those titles.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: johnnyforde
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 10:50 AM

its on colm o donnels cd called heart strings...

its about a man living in london wishing he could be with a wealthy woman he loves back in loughrea but because he is poor it shall never be...
in one verse he wishes he was the red fox she hunts over the land
talk about having it bad....
beautiful song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 10:45 AM

my heart strings make sweet music when ere i think of thee...

just to walk with you lovely lady and to be your squire..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 06:33 PM

I have no idea. The only word I remember is "feathered".

Gary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,David Ingerson
Date: 23 Jun 05 - 09:46 PM

belter, thanks for posting that first verse. Do you have the rest of the words? And are we going in the right direction, Gary?

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 06:01 PM

belter

Don´t think that´s the one - but that doesn´t mean we´re not interested!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: belter
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 05:43 PM

Could this be MARY OF LOUGHREA, which is a lament for a young woman who died? Starts out -

It was in the early autumn time when summer roses fade
And nature mourns its dying bloom in every rural shade.
'Twas o'er the yellow fields I strayed as evening died away,
To view the angel of my heart, sweet Mary of Loughrea.

If so, I'll have to look up the rest.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,Gary Martin
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 11:35 AM

I don't recall anything about the lyrics except that each verse ends with the phrase "the lady of Loughrea" and one of the unintelligible words is preceded by the word "feathered" and sounds a bit like "shoes".

Thanks for the offers of help. I look forward to the results.

Gary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 08:51 AM

It´s a fairly well known song - I´ve certainly heard Colm sing it. NOt sure if I have a set of words to it - and am out of the country for two weeks. If it hasn´r appeared here by then, I´ll see what I can do.

Regards
p.s The name of the poet Gabriel Fallon is going through my head as I write. Not sure if he wrote it....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 03:13 AM

There's also a Loughrea Jig, and a song called The Banks of Sweet Loughrea, for what that's worth. Also (On the) Banks of (the) Sweet Loch Rae (or Ray, or Neagh).

Perhaps you would quote some of the words that your friend has managed to decipher? It might very well help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,David Ingerson
Date: 22 Jun 05 - 02:44 AM

No luck. I found "The Loughrea Lasses," an aire in O'Neill's Music of Ireland, but I don't think that's what you're after. Sorry.

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,David Ingerson
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 05:06 PM

I'm at work (sort of) right now. I'll check my index tonight.

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 12:25 PM

no luck either - tho I did find an additional mention of a ballad written to "the traditional air of 'Lady of Loughrea'"

Subject: Lyr Req: Lady of Loughrea
From: GUEST,Gary Martin
Date: 21 Jun 05 - 12:17 PM

Does anybody have the lyrics to the Irish song "Lady of Loughrea"? I had never heard of it until Bridget Fitzgerald asked me about it two days ago. She's learning it from a tape by an unidentified singer given to her by Cathie Ryan about five years ago, but some of the lyrics are unintelligible.

Google hasn't been very helpful, though it did find one recording by Colm O'Donnell and a newspaper article from 2002 about a Kerry singer winning an All-Ireland title with that song.

I've checked Walton's New Treasury of Irish Songs, vols 1&2, Ossian's Folksongs and Ballads Popular in Ireland, vols 1-3, Soodlum's Irish Ballad Book, The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin, and Peter Kennedy's Folksongs of Britain and Ireland.

Can anybody help?