THE BOGS OF SHANAHEEVER

johngalway

I had never heard of this song before tonight, when, of all people, I was told by an ecologist!

No doubt it came to her from her father in law who recited poetry to our class the last week. He's a real class act and had the room enrapture.

Anyway, I thought it may be of interest to some on here.

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THE BOGS OF SHANAHEEVER

My youthful days are past and it makes my heart feel weary
As I sit in the cart in the wilds of the prairie.
Hunting the deer that skip around the beaver
While my thoughts fondly stray to the Bogs of Shanaheever.

By the cold light of the moon won't you tell them to be ready
Tell them to prepare and to bring on Master Freddy.
Tell them to be quick and to be very clever
For it's my last day of coursing on the Bogs of Shanaheever.

From the shores of Lough Oonagh to the Plains of Glenrikken
Beneath a red sun my poor old heart is ticking.
We made straight for Letterdean, but the land it didn't favour
So we crossed over the mountains for the Bogs Of Shanaheever.

They have boasted in London of the trials of O'Donnel.
And young Willie Ayres praised the fortunes of Diana.
But the truth to you I'll tell, that Diana was the favourite,
But Victor took the sway on the Bogs of Shanaheever.

On the day that Victor died, my coursing days were over.
And I sat down and cried like a broken-hearted lover.
I put Victor in his grave and I left him there forever
And booked a passage to New York from the Bogs of Shanaheever.

So it's fare-you-well Ireland, and fare-you-well forever.
There is nowhere in the world I will look on with such favour.
And if ever I return I'll come back again and see her
And I'll bid a last farewell to the Bogs of Shanaheever.

pedroeibar1

Interesting song about coursing and emigration. My favorite coursing/beagling song is the "Armored Car"
Here's another vession of yours:

My young life has passed, which makes me feel dreary
For in exile I'm cast on the wilds of the prairie.
There to watch the Red Man, hunt the panther and the beaver
But my thoughts wander back to the Bogs of Shanaheever.

Tommy, Andy and Eoin in my absence get ready
By the early morning moon have the dogs out and ready
And make no delay, but be fast and clever
And we'll have a fine days coursing o'er the Bogs of Shanaheever.

In London for years, Ryan spoke of Susannah
And young Willie Ayer, he would boast of Diana
But the truth to you I'll tell , there is none of them I'd favour
I'd give Victor the sway, o'er the Bogs of Shanaheever.

From the shores of Lough Inagh to the plains of Glenbricken
And beneath the red sun, my poor heart was ticking
Went to make for Letterdean, but the boys they did'nt favour
So we crossed by the hill to the Bogs of Shanaheever.

The course it was rough and the dogs they were strong winded
And how fierce every stride, oh the hunting it was splendid.
Those 2-year old dogs so lanky swift and clever.
But the next sight I saw, was a death in Shanaheever.

The day that Victor died, my coursing days were over.
I sat down and cried, like a heartbroken lover.
We dug Victor his grave and we left him there forever.
Paid my passage to New York, from the Bogs of Shanaheever.

Ireland, my love, I will think of you forever.
There is no place on Earth that men love with such great fervour.
And when She is free, I'll come back again to see Her
Then we'll spend our days a hunting on the Bogs of Shanaheever.

pedroeibar1

The Armoured Car


Come all my good friends and around me attend
You can listen to my song
You must appreciate a hound so great
To the sport that you belong
No land or title did he ever own
And he cared nought for whom you are
He was bred and trained by the boys of Fairhill
And they called him the Armoured Car
Facts to you I'll disclose, he had a checkproof nose
And he never yet lost a hunt
He had cast-iron jaws and steel-padded paws
Every nail was like an iron bar
From one mile to ten, he would never give in
If you ran him from here to Castlebar
Small wonder, gentlemen, that the boys of Fairhill
Used to call him the Armoured Car
In the year of twenty one when he started to run
Having surveyed the country all round
He sent a sworn declaration to the Harriers Association
That he cared not for man, hare or hound
And he swore right then that if he didn't win
To Fairhill he'd never repair
And I'm sure the British fleet they would have to retreat
From Doylie's old Armoured Car
'Twas on the green fields of Gurranabraher he first declared war
On his terrible Southern foes
And he swore once again that if he didn't win
To Fairhill he never would go
Coming down Scrivens's farm he raised the alarm
Saying, I wonder where the other hounds are
And loud and high you could hear the cry
Of Doylie's Armoured Car
At the Battle of Waterloo well they all well knew
How he laid the enemy low
When they thought he was done from the heat of the sun
And the armour on fire would go
To the finish from the start he broke the Blarney dogs' heart
From the flags sure he took them afar
When a shout from Séan - carr' ahead, Ceolán!
Take the place of the Armoured Car
He stormed Timoleague nearly causing a plague
For he fought till the sands grew dark
And the country people round, they had got terror bound
When for light, faith, there wasn't a spark
The judges growing tired were soon inspired
When out shone the evening star
Who should be coming to the front and he leading the hunt
But Doylie's old Armoured Car
When the Free State bill was framed and peace proclaimed
And the country slumbered in repose
North, South, East and West, he couldn't be suppressed
For he cared not for man or foe
When the Black and Tans and the Saxon gangs
For England sailed afar
With all their guns and rap, sure never could they capture
Doylie's Armoured Car
Now here is my glass and around may it pass
As we drink in bonds of love
Here's to every hand that mine can expand
And to those up in heaven above
Here's to every hound who knows his ground
No matter where they are
'Twould be Connie Doyle's delight if every dog here tonight
Had a heart like the Armoured Car