"The Boys of Mullaghbawn"
This is an old traditional South Armagh song and concerns treachery,treason and deportation. Squire Jackson who is meantioned in the verses, was indeed an English Squire in the region back in the 18th century and as the song describes, a very fair man. I believe "The cuckoo left her station" refers to the traitor. The ruins of Jackson's house are still visible outside the village of Mullaghbawn.
Many of the family will be familiar with the line: "Farewell Killeavy and the Boys of Mullaghbawn." I first heard it when my father would give a lift toTed McGuinness, an old Irish friend of his, from Quinn's in town after a Saturday afternoon drink. While he was getting out of the Bedord van at Aspinwall Street , he would quote the line. This must have been 1950's. I never realised it was a song. Ted's line is from a mixture from 2 verses:
On a Monday morning early my wandering steps they'd lead me
Down by a farmer's station, through meadows and green lawn
I heard great lamentation, the small birds they were warbling
We'll have no more engagements with the boys of Mullaghbawn
As our heroes crossed the ocean I'm told the ship in motion
Did stand in great commotion as if the seas ran dry
With the trout and salmon gaping the cuckoo's left her station
Farewell to old Killeavey and the hills of Mullaghbawn
The are many versions of the lyrics and indeed the song. If you remember Petesy Campbell - he died Jan. 2003, his brother John recorded it. John is world renowned shanachie (story-teller) and lives just up the road from O'Hanlon's pub. More information of John and Len Graham at http://www.storyandsong.com/cds.htm . I have also heard Brian "Nelly" Murphy give an excellent rendition of the song in O'Hanlon's.
At this site http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/boys-mullaghbawn.html you can hear 2 versions by Mary Smith and Aidan Brennan. For those musicians among you, there is a GIF file of the sheet music - so we want a rendition for the next reunion in 2009 - you will have plenty of time to practice!
Other useful links on the site includea South Armagh tourist guide.
Bernie O'Hanlon, owner of the pub, has a web site: http://www.ohanlons.com/index.htm
His pub is shown, and inside the pub, a 1995 photo of Ronnie Flynn on the left and Petesey and his wife(originally from Bootle). Sadly all three of them are no longer with us.
Do anyone of have any recollection of Ted McGuinness?
Many of the family will be familiar with the line: "Farewell Killeavy and the Boys of Mullaghbawn." I first heard it when my father would give a lift toTed McGuinness, an old Irish friend of his, from Quinn's in town after a Saturday afternoon drink. While he was getting out of the Bedord van at Aspinwall Street , he would quote the line. This must have been 1950's. I never realised it was a song. Ted's line is from a mixture from 2 verses:
On a Monday morning early my wandering steps they'd lead me
Down by a farmer's station, through meadows and green lawn
I heard great lamentation, the small birds they were warbling
We'll have no more engagements with the boys of Mullaghbawn
As our heroes crossed the ocean I'm told the ship in motion
Did stand in great commotion as if the seas ran dry
With the trout and salmon gaping the cuckoo's left her station
Farewell to old Killeavey and the hills of Mullaghbawn
The are many versions of the lyrics and indeed the song. If you remember Petesy Campbell - he died Jan. 2003, his brother John recorded it. John is world renowned shanachie (story-teller) and lives just up the road from O'Hanlon's pub. More information of John and Len Graham at http://www.storyandsong.com/cds.htm . I have also heard Brian "Nelly" Murphy give an excellent rendition of the song in O'Hanlon's.
At this site http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/boys-mullaghbawn.html you can hear 2 versions by Mary Smith and Aidan Brennan. For those musicians among you, there is a GIF file of the sheet music - so we want a rendition for the next reunion in 2009 - you will have plenty of time to practice!
Other useful links on the site includea South Armagh tourist guide.
Bernie O'Hanlon, owner of the pub, has a web site: http://www.ohanlons.com/index.htm
His pub is shown, and inside the pub, a 1995 photo of Ronnie Flynn on the left and Petesey and his wife(originally from Bootle). Sadly all three of them are no longer with us.
Do anyone of have any recollection of Ted McGuinness?
posted by DocMurf @ 8:28 PM
2 Comments:
There are several spelling of Mullaghbawn/Mullagbane etc. It come from the Gaelic 'An Mullach Ban' -which means 'White hill/summit' This may be a reference to Slieve Gullion, or even the hills that make up the Ring of Gullion which surround the village. It's interesting but I have noticed that some people down her in Cork with white hair are nicknamed 'bawny' - so we can see the link to white in Mullaghbawn.
It's a great idea to sing this song at the next reunion. Can we have it in Ireland and hire a plane to take us all there, this is what Mum thought as it is near on impossible to speak to everyone and we could make it a holiday. I love the photo of Dad and is that our Chris and Jack in the background? Laura-Jane
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