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Lyr/info req: Strongmen from Loughrea

09 Nov 99 - 07:18 PM (#133897)
Subject: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Antaine

Martin,
Do you have any info on "Strongmen from Loughrea"?
Background story?
Translation?
By whom?
etc.
And....by the way I don't have your e-mail address!
Go raibh maith agat.
Antaine


10 Nov 99 - 04:04 AM (#134023)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin Ryan

Antaine

Talk to you in Paris!

Regards


10 Nov 99 - 06:09 AM (#134029)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin Ryan

And while I think of it.... remind me to talk to you about Liam's Brother!

Regards


10 Nov 99 - 08:23 PM (#134395)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin _Ryan

Antaine

I was talking (briefly) to Johnny Johnston tonight. He got it from Brian McMahon's son (Gabariel?) and thinks it was written about 30 years ago by " a guy in UCG called Fallon". My guess is that it might well have been Padrig Fallon the poet and playwright who, though he didn't work in UCG, was born and reared in Athenry! Johnny reckons that Brian O Rourke also sings it and is likely to know the story.

Regards


11 Nov 99 - 07:17 AM (#134539)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: John Moulden

Antaine

I told you that this song was on a Comhaltas compilation - "Popular Traditional Songs." The booklet which accompanied the cassette says - using the title "The Lady of Loughrea" - "This song was written by Pádraig Fallon, a well known poet of the 1940-'60 period. It was inspired by the motifs and ideas of an Irish song 'Tá mo theach or an adrán'. Garry McMahon (who, incidentally, is an ex-All-Ireland footballer) is a native of Listowel now living in Newcastle West."

If the Irish song is the one you were thinking of, this seems to fit in both with the thoughts you had last weekend and with what Johnny Johnston told Martin.


11 Nov 99 - 07:19 AM (#134540)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: John Moulden

Sorry, further thoughts. One man to get more from would be Séamus MacMathúna - he wrote the booklet.


11 Nov 99 - 07:54 AM (#134547)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin Ryan

Well done, John! It had been nagging at me that, apart from recent live performances, I had heard the song on record some years ago. I suspect I had/have a copy of that CCE recording on tape somewhere - without the notes.

Regards


11 Nov 99 - 02:46 PM (#134673)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: John Moulden

I've got the notes - no tape - swop/swap or whatever spelling is local? I challenge you to find it.


11 Nov 99 - 04:52 PM (#134733)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin _Ryan

John

Done!

Regards


12 Nov 99 - 06:23 AM (#134963)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin Ryan

John

The plot thickens! I found the tape - but the song is not on it. Its the one with "Banks of the Moy" , "Omagh Town" etc etc. I recognise some, but not all, of the singers. Its possible I was given a partial copy - but I doubt it.

Regards

p.s. I'll email Brian O'Rourke for help.


13 Nov 99 - 10:43 AM (#135441)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: John Moulden

From the contents you mention this is the tape for the booklet which I have. The song under discussion is given as Side A number 3 - "The lady of Loughrea" sung by Garry McMahon.

Does that help?


14 Nov 99 - 06:51 AM (#135857)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Martin _Ryan

John

Only to the extent that it means the damn thing was removed! I'll get a copy to you at some stage.

Regards


23 Nov 99 - 05:31 PM (#140066)
Subject: RE: Martin Ryan/Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Antaine

Thanks lads. I've been very busy of late. So I didn't get back to the forum until now.


Antaine


06 Aug 09 - 07:15 AM (#2694634)
Subject: RE: Lyr/info req: Strongmen from Loughrea
From: smpc

strongmen of loughrae is part of the last line to the song 'The Lady Of Loughrae.

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 Loughrae.

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

Oh! Roseleaf maid t'is 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 Loughrae.

In her grey house by the water my love is dwelling still
She is the moons 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 to Loughrae.

Last night abroad in London I spent my only crown
I toasted to last one and after cried tears down
I walked the lamps till morning and I heard your hark away
Oh I wish I were the red fox that you hunted round Loughrae.

Oh! Lent may last till Easter and after Summer comes
But for fasting or feasting while the sloe bush buds and blooms
The queen of hearts is lonely but the jokers still to play
Oh! I'll fight and I'll take her from you oh strong men of Loughrae.


07 Aug 09 - 08:05 PM (#2695864)
Subject: RE: Lyr/info req: Strongmen from Loughrea
From: Jim Dixon

The above song apparently is sung under several titles:

GREY LAKE OF LOUGHREA, sung by Christy Moore, Johnny Johnston, Tony Small, et al.

LADY OF LOUGHREA, sung by Colm O'Donnell, John Ennis, et al.

...but the original title was THE PRETTY GIRLS OF LOUGHREA. The original text by the poet Padraic Fallon was posted here.


11 Feb 13 - 03:04 PM (#3478338)
Subject: RE: Lyr/info req: Strongmen from Loughrea
From: GUEST

Is this a line from the song Mary from Loughrea. I will rise & take her from ye, Oh Strongmen from Loughree ...