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Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)

21 Jul 99 - 02:50 PM (#97718)
Subject: Lyr Add: BANKS OF THE MOY (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: Wolfgang

another fine song from the South Roscommon Singers' CD . This is my transcription with as usual some unclear bits, especially in the names. Who'll correct my mistakes when Martin is not here any longer?

Wolfgang

BANKS OF THE MOY
(Seamus O'Duffy)

One day as I went to my rambles
from Swinford to sweet Ballylea
I met with a maid as I rambled
and her name it was Mary Maghee.
Well, she sighed for the rights of old Ireland:
Michael Devitt, my brave Irish boy,
he is now in a prison in Portland,
far from the lovely sweet banks of theMoy.

I quickly approached this fair maiden,
asked her what was the cause of her woe
and what was her reason for misery
that caused her from home for to roam.
Well, she sighed, for the rights of old Ireland
Michael Devitt, my brave Irish boy,
he is now in a prison in Portland,
far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy.

Don't you talk of your sweet '67,
we had brave men and true men also,
there was young Peter Carney, God rest him,
he died in Killarney, you know.
He was trailed by Mid-Ireland, Michael Devitt,
'round the valleys and plains of half Fermoy.
And that's why he's in prison in Portland,
far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy.

And now to conclude and to finish
I hope that the day soon will come,
when those cruel landlords and bailiffs
from the isle of St. Patrick must run.
We will unfurl our green and gold banner
and to Ireland we'll raise (our head?) on high,
then we will drink to our brave Michael Devitt
from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy.

^^

20 Sep 99 - 03:36 PM (#115849)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Martin _Ryan

ONe or two:

Verse 3.5 : He was drilled my darling Mick Davitt
3.6 : ....and plains of Fermoy

4.6 : And to Ireland we'll raise it on high

Regards

24 Sep 99 - 04:33 AM (#117203)
Subject: Lyr Add: BANKS OF THE MOY (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: Wolfgang

thanks again, Martin, here's now the correct(ed) version. BTW, is it Davitt or Devitt?

Wolfgang

BANKS OF THE MOY
(Seamus O'Duffy)

One day as I went to my rambles
from Swinford to sweet Ballylea
I met with a maid as I rambled
and her name it was Mary Maghee.
Well, she sighed for the rights of old Ireland:
Michael Devitt, my brave Irish boy,
he is now in a prison in Portland,
far from the lovely sweet banks of theMoy.

I quickly approached this fair maiden,
asked her what was the cause of her woe
and what was her reason for misery
that caused her from home for to roam.
Well, she sighed, for the rights of old Ireland
Michael Devitt, my brave Irish boy,
he is now in a prison in Portland,
far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy.

Don't you talk of your sweet '67,
we had brave men and true men also,
there was young Peter Carney, God rest him,
he died in Killarney, you know.
He was drilled by my darling Mick Davitt,
'round the valleys and plains of Fermoy.
And that's why he's in prison in Portland,
far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy.

And now to conclude and to finish
I hope that the day soon will come,
when those cruel landlords and bailiffs
from the isle of St. Patrick must run.
We will unfurl our green and gold banner
and to Ireland we'll raise it on high,
then we will drink to our brave Michael Devitt
from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy.

24 Sep 99 - 04:53 AM (#117207)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Martin Davitt

Davitt!

regards

24 Sep 99 - 06:16 AM (#117216)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Martin Ryan

Jeez! Martin Davitt!

Regards

27 Jan 03 - 02:54 PM (#875937)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Big Tim

Is this song traditional or was it written by Seamus O'Duffy?

27 Jan 03 - 03:40 PM (#875978)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: MartinRyan

Big Tim

Seamus O'Duffy certainly says he wrote it!

Regards

27 Jan 03 - 04:39 PM (#876037)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: ard mhacha

I have a very good recording of this fine song sung by Chris O`Donnell from County Sligo. Ard Mhacha.

27 Jan 03 - 06:12 PM (#876119)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: MartinRyan

Colm O'Donnell? Fine singer.

Regards

28 Jan 03 - 08:11 AM (#876491)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: ard mhacha

Right you are Martin . Ard Mhacha.

28 Jan 03 - 09:15 AM (#876531)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Big Tim

Just found a note by John Moulden, he says that the song is "found on ballad sheets of the time [c.1880], but most recently promoted by the Mayo singer, Seamus O'Duffy". Any further advances?

28 Jan 03 - 09:18 AM (#876533)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Big Tim

PS: JM lists the song under the title "Michael Davitt".

04 Mar 04 - 03:33 PM (#1129263)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Brakn

Has anyone got the air to this one?

04 Mar 04 - 03:38 PM (#1129265)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: GUEST,MMario

if you do and can post it please do so - it's one of the "missing" tunes from the DT.

04 Mar 04 - 04:34 PM (#1129295)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Big Tim

Also a great recorded version of the song done by Terence O'Neill, on various folk, "rebel" compilations.

I have since got a copy of the original, 19th C, ballad sheet from Trinity College Library, Dublin . The song, there, is credited to a Mary Ward. It was certainly written before anyone alive today was born.

04 Mar 04 - 05:04 PM (#1129309)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Brakn

Big Tim, are the words the same as those posted above?

04 Mar 04 - 10:30 PM (#1129523)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: GUEST

There seems to be some similarities between this song and 'Eileen McManus.' I wonder if the air to that would fit.

05 Mar 04 - 02:42 AM (#1129590)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: Big Tim

Brakn: very, very similar. A couple of extra verses but its obviously the same song. The opening lines are "one day as I went for my rambles, from Swineford [sic], to sweet Ballina, I met a fair maid on my rambles, and her name it was Mary McGra". If you care to PM me an email address, I'll send you a copy.

26 May 08 - 12:22 PM (#2349415)
Subject: RE: ADD: Banks of the Moy
From: quokka

another song about the river moy? great - my Dad will love this!

04 Jan 13 - 09:51 AM (#3461212)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: GUEST,Vincent Doherty

I've been singing the song for a while and was hoping for some definite information on it's origins and other versions to present at the Inishowen Singers Circle event in March. I'd be really grateful for any information or the words of the song you have. My home email address is probably the best one to get me at vindobhoy@gmail.com

04 Jan 13 - 12:57 PM (#3461292)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: MartinRyan

GUESTVincentDoherty

The basic story is as outlined in the thread - two versions exist, of which one is on a broadsheet and the other is attributed to Seamus O'Duffy. John Moulden, who regularly speaks at the Inishowen festival, is your best bet if you have any particular queries.

Regards

04 Jan 13 - 03:31 PM (#3461363)
Subject: Lyr Add: DAVITT'S LOVER'S LAMENT (Mary Ward)
From: GUEST,John Moulden

The ballad sheet is transcribed below.

The sheet has no publication details but is contemporary with Davitt's imprisonment.

This is the text:

A new song on
DAVITT'S LOVER'S LAMENT
on his incarceration from the Banks of the Moy

by Mary Ward

One day as I went on my rambles from Swinford to sweet Ballina
I met a fair maid on my rambles whose name was Mary M'Gra
She sang on the wrongs of her own land and Davitt her true Irish boy,
That's now in the prison of Portland from the lovely green banks of the Moy.

This maiden was gone quite distracted for her lover being locked in his cell
Inside of the prison of Portland as Irishmen know it quite well
When Ireland called for assistance his time he did nobly employ
With his pike and his wife together from the lovely green banks of the Moy

I kindly stepped up to this fair maid as she then did walk all alone
And asked her the cause of her misery and why did she leave her own home
This maiden she kindly made answer, young Davitt's my true Irish boy
He's now in the prison of Portland from the lovely green banks of the Moy.

Fair maiden I know Michael Davitt he comes from the parish of Straid
In the year 67 my darling young Davitt was a green coated blade
He was a comrade this brave Michael Davitt his country he'll never deny
He's now in the prison of Portland from the lovely green banks of the Moy.

Don't talk upon sweet '67 there were true men and brave men you know,
There was young Peter Crawley from Kilcoody that died in Killdorney also.
He was drilled by my lover young Davitt in the the valleys and glens of Fermoy.
That's now in the prison of Portland from the lovely green banks of the Moy.

Old Ireland does mourn this hero, her patriot loyal and true
For the cause of old Ireland stood daring the landlords he thought to subdue
He spoke on the rights of his own land Davitt her true Irish boy
That's now in the prison of Portland from the lovely green green [sic] banks of the Moy.

And now to conclude and to finish I hope that the day will soon come,
When the landlords and cruel will bailiffs from the land of St. Patrick must run.
We'll unfold them our green and gold banner and spread o'er Erin's green isle
In respect for brave Michael Davitt from the lovely green banks of the Moy.

Source: Trinity College Dublin, Early Printed Books, John Davis White Collection (compiled most probably 1844-1883) Volume 3. Shelfmark 189t3 number 274 (now shelved at OLS-X-532)

The text was transcribed by Colin Neilands for his 1986 PhD thesis: Irish broadside ballads in their social and historical contexts (Queen's Univ, Belfast) Vol 2 pages 51-52. It has now been corrected from a jpg of the original which has little punctuation.

04 Jan 13 - 04:36 PM (#3461408)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: MartinRyan

Thanks John!

Regards

07 Mar 13 - 07:01 AM (#3487446)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: MartinRyan

To hear Colm O'Donnell's recording on Youtube -
Click here

Regards

26 Apr 13 - 11:13 PM (#3509462)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: GUEST

It seems to me absolutely astonishing that Seamus O'Duffy, a leading light in CCE for nearly 30 years, and who it seems, has a long history of vulgar and ill informed commentary, could expect anyone to accept that he is the author of the song. Given the overwhelming evidence that establish the song as traditional, Mr. O'Duffy clearly think people floated up the Moy in a bubble. Unbelievable.

27 Apr 13 - 01:04 PM (#3509657)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: GUEST,John Moulden

For documentary evidence of Mr Duffy's unequivocal claim to having composed the song see his book (published under the Irish form of his name - Séamus Ó Dubhthaigh) "Survival: Irish traditional music and song - a view" (2009, Dublin, CCÉ)pages 131-2 - he implies that he wrote it in 1967.

13 Oct 14 - 05:10 AM (#3668540)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: MartinRyan

There's now a recording of Josephine Boland (my good lady wife!) singing this at The Goilin Song Project:

Click here

Regards

05 Feb 17 - 11:34 PM (#3837010)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: AmyLove

One of the places I found the lyrics to this song:

If Ever You Go: A Map of Dublin in Poetry and Song

Terry O'Neill singing it:

Michael Davitt

06 Feb 17 - 07:19 AM (#3837061)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Banks of the Moy (Seamus O'Duffy)
From: Thompson

Here's a Wiki on Michael Davitt.

13 Feb 17 - 06:36 AM (#3838609)
Subject: RE: songs about Michael Davitt
From: Felipa

Wolfgang also contributed Andy Irvine's song about Michael Davitt to Mudcat Forgotten Hero