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origin of old trad song "Carrickfergus"

eugene · 2003-05-30 23:28:03

A local fiddler in County Derry just asked me about an hour ago if I could find out the origin of the well known song Carrickfergus. Here in the North, we would have just assumed that it was about Carrickfergus, County Antrim, but he thinks that that isn't so. I have done a bit of a search since he asked me (his confusion…

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31-05-2003 12:28am

#1

eugene

Closed Accounts Posts: 32 ✭

Join Date: December 2002

Posts: 25

A local fiddler in County Derry just asked me about an hour ago if I could find out the origin of the well known song Carrickfergus. Here in the North, we would have just assumed that it was about Carrickfergus, County Antrim, but he thinks that that isn't so. I have done a bit of a search since he asked me (his confusion arises from the Kilkenny reference in the song). Now in the song, the author is lamenting about missing home and "a night in Ballygran" which as far as I can determine, is in Limerick. So folks, any amateur historians out there? Here are the lyrics, for those of you not familiar with them;

I wish I was in Carrighfergus,
Only for nights in Ballygran
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
Only for nights in Ballygran.

But the sea is wide, and I can't swim over.
Neither have I wings to fly,
If I could find me a handsome boatsman
To ferry me over to my love and die.

Now in Kilkenny, it is reported,
They've marble stones there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would transport her
But I'll sing no more now, till I get a drink.

I'm drunk today, but I'm seldom sober.
A handsome rover from town to town.
Ah, but I am sick now, my days are over,
Come all you young lads and lay me down.

I wish I was in Carrighfergus,
Only for nights in Ballygran

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