September 2016 County Songs

Slievenamon – Tipperary Song Alone all alone by the wave-washed strand And alone in a crowded hall The hall it is gay and the waves they are grand But but my heart is not here at all It lies far away by night and by day To the times and the joys that are gone But I never will forget the sweet maiden I met In the valley near Slievenamon

Oh it was not the grace of her queenly air Nor her cheeks of roses glow Nor her soft black eyes nor her flowing hair Nor was it her lily white brow 'Twas the soul of truth and of melting ruth And the smile like a summer's dawn That stole my heart away one soft summer's day In the valley near Slievenamon.

2. The Rose of Mooncoin – Kilkenny Song Oh, how sweet 'tis to roam by the sunny Shure stream And hear the doves coo 'neath the morning sunbeam Where the thrush and the robin their sweet notes entwine On the banks of the Shure that flows down by Mooncoin.

Flow on lovely river, flow gently along By your waters so sweet sounds the lark's merry song By your green banks I wander where first I did join With you lovely Molly, the rose of Mooncoin.

Oh Molly, dear Molly, it breaks my fond heart To know that we two now forever must part But I'll think of you Molly, when sun and moon shine On the banks of the Shure that flows down by Mooncoin.

Flow on lovely river, flow gently along By your waters so sweet sounds the lark's merry song By your green banks I wander where first I did join With you lovely Molly, the rose of Mooncoin.

3. The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee – Cork Song How oft do my thoughts in their fancy take flight  To the home of my childhood away,  To the days when each patriot's vision seem'd bright  Ere I dreamed that those joys should decay.  When my heart was as light as the wild winds that blow  Down the Mardyke through each elm tree,  Where I sported and play'd 'neath each green leafy shade  On the banks of my own lovely Lee. 

And then in the springtime of laughter and song  Can I ever forget the sweet hours?  With the friends of my youth as we rambled along  'Mongst the green mossy banks and wild flowers.  Then too, when the evening sun's sinking to rest  Sheds its golden light over the sea  The maid with her lover the wild daisies pressed  On the banks of my own lovely Lee  The maid with her lover the wild daisies pressed  On the banks of my own lovely Lee 

4. Molly Malone – Dublin Song In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone, As she wheeled her wheel-barrow, Through streets broad and narrow, Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!" "Alive, alive, oh, Alive, alive, oh", Crying "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh".

She was a fishmonger, And sure 'twas no wonder, For so were her father and mother before, And they each wheeled their barrow, Through streets broad and narrow, Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!" "Alive, alive, oh, Alive, alive, oh", Crying "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh". She died of a fever,

She died of a fever and no one could save her And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone Now her ghost wheels her barrow through the streets broad and narrow Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive O Alive, alive O, alive, alive O Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive O Alive, alive O, alive, alive O Crying cockles and mussels alive, alive O

5. The Green & Red of Mayo – Mayo Song Oh the Green and Red of Mayo I can see it still It's soft and craggy bog lands It's tall majestic hills Where the ocean kisses Ireland And the waves caress its shore Oh the feeling it came over me To stay forever more Forever more

From its rolling coastal waters I can see Croagh Patrick's peak Where one Sunday every Summer The pilgrims climb the reek Where Saint Patrick in his solitude Looked down across Clew Bay And with a ringing of his bell Called the faithful there to pray There to pray

Oh take me to Clare Island The home of Gráinne Mhaol Its waters harbour fishes From the herring to the whale And now I must depart it And reality is plain May the time not pass so slowly 'fore I set sail again Set sail again

The Green and Red of Mayo I can see it still Its soft and craggy bog lands Its tall majestic hills Where the ocean kisses Ireland And the waves caress its shore The feeling it came over me To stay forever more Forever more Oh the Green and Red of Mayo [repeat 3 times]