The night of the wedding at Locky McGrath's

John Tiernan was a resident musician in the Jolly Mariner folk club in Athlone for a number of years. He played the concertina and smiled a lot,bringing good cheer to the multitudes. His favourite tune was "The Otter's Holt",which he learned from Charlie Piggott. Charlie played banjo,mandolin with the original De Danann. John did a super job on the tune and I still remember it fondly.

John Tiernan's father-in-law,Jack O'Sullivan,used to visit from time to time and always come with John to the Mariner. He would sing a song or two and enjoyed the music and the general atmosphere of the place. Jack made me a tape in 1981 and on it was the song"Locky McGrath" which I recorded in Midland sound studio in 1984.I think that Cha Nicholson actually sang on the chorus.

Locky McGrath

Oh its all of a song I am now going to prattle
The night I fell in with a gang on the tatter
As sure as my life it was just like a battle
The night of the wedding at Locky McGrath's
Chorus
Arra by God t'was a terrible tear
Me and McGrath,my mother was there
And if I get mixed up in the wheels of a train
I may never go to her wedding again
2
The first thing that came was a big load of peelings
A mighty big stew that was made in the Hie'lands
The look of the stew it hurted our feelings
The night of the wedding at Lock McGrath

There was plenty to eat,there was frostbitten liver
As sure as you're there and sure as you're never
The look of the meat sure it gave us the fever
The night of the wedding at Locky McGrath's
3
There were tinkers and tailors and journeymen nailers
Azzina,Azuna and a bundle of Quakers
The look on their faces near gave us the shakers
The night of the wedding at Locky McGraths

The first to come in was old Mrs.McRussell
She couldn't well sing so she started to whistle
Somebody gave her a kick in the bustle
the night of the wedding at Locky McGrath's
4
And the next to come in was old Paddy O'Hara
He came and he gave us a verse of "Tarrara"
I seen all his bones going out in a barrow
After the wedding at Locky McGrath's

The last to come in was old Paddy McGinty
He stood in the door and he started a shinty
He upped with the poker I'm sure he killed twenty
The night of the wedding at Locky McGrath's