The gorgeous City of Mullingar

Colm O'Lochlainn published his book"Irish Street Ballads" in 1939. It was compiled,planned and printed in Fleet St.,Dublin at the sign of the Three Candles. The book became immensely important to the singers of the "folk revival" in the 1960's. There are still gems in that book waiting for their day to come.

In 1965 came book 2."More Irish Street Ballads" and this book also should be on every discerning person's shelf.

In book 2 was the song"In praise of the City of Mullingar". O'Lochlainn writes in his notes"I have known fragments of "Mullingar"since schooldays and my thanks are due to Senator William O'Brien for giving me "Songs and Fables" by Professor W.J.Rankine(Glasgow:Maclehose 1874) wherein this"Ode in praise of the City of Mullingar" appears.
Colm welded the words to the tune of the Irish song,"Preab san Ol",a convivial song by Richard Barrett,the Erris poet.

I completely disremember who sang this song in the "old days" but when in doubt,we'll blame Frank Harte.
I recorded a version in Cha Nicholson's Studio in Athlone in 1984.


In praise of the City of Mullingar

You may strain your muscles to brag of Brussels ,of London ,Paris or Timbuctoo
Constantinople,or Sebastople,Vienna,Naples or Tonktaboo
Copenhagen,Madrid ,Kilbeggan or the capital of the Rooshian Czar
But they're all inferior to that vast superior and gorgeous City of Mullingar


That fair metropolis,so great and populous adorns the regions of sweet Westmeath
That fertile county which nature's bounty has richly gifted with bog and heath
Them sights so charming where snipes a-swarming attract the sportsmen from near and far;
And whoever wishes may catch fine fishes in deep Lough Owel near Mullingar


I could stray forever by Brosna's river and watch it's waters in their sparkling fall
And the ganders swimming and lightly skimming on the crystal bosom of the Royal Canal
Or on Thursdays wander 'mid pigs so tender and geese and turkeys on many's the car
Exchanging pleasantry with the bold fine peasantry that throng the market of Mullingar


Ye nine,inspire me,and with rapture fire me to sing the buildings both old and new
The majestic courthouse and spacious workhouse,the church and steeple that adorn the view
There's a barracks airy for the Military where the brave repose from the toils of war
Five schools,a nunnery, and a thriving tannery in the gorgeous City of Mullingar


The railway station with admiration I next must mention in terms of praise
Where engines howlin' and trains a-rollin' strike each beholder with a wild amaze
Then there's main street,that broad and clean street with rows of gaslamps that shine afar
I could spake a lecture on the architecture of the gorgeous City of Mullingar


The men of genius,contemporaneous,approach spontaneous this favoured spot
Where good society and great variety of entertainment is still their lot
The surrounding quality,for hospitality and conviviality unequalled are
And from December until November there's still diversion in Mullingar


Now,in conclusion,I make allusion to the beautiful females that here abound
Celestial creatures with lovely features and tapered ankles that skim the ground
But this suspends me,the theme transcends me,my muses powers are too weak by far
It would take Catullus,likewise Tibbulius,to sing the praises of Mullingar