The Old Ground,Ennis,August 1977

In August,1977,Padraig Canny,Liz and I set off for Ennis Co.Clare.It must have been the occasion of the Fleadh Nua or some such. We camped in Milltown Malbay or more accurately in a field at Spanish Point. We were joined by other musical pilgrims,most notably Mick Guilfoyle. As always the music and singing was super but as they say ,all good things come to an end,so on the Monday we lifted our tents,packed old "Danny Blue"(the van) and headed for home.

We were coming in to Ennis when someone suggested we take a break for a cup of tea,so in to the Old Ground we went. We had just got inside the door when we heard the sound of a human voice. We investigated,and found a room full of people just off the main foyer. The singing was going full blast-the naked voice-.Tea and trip home were immediately forgotten and necks were craned and ears dilated to take in every sound and nuance of the session.

Most of the greats were there.
Len Graham and Joe Holmes sang Maherafelt May Fair,Races of Moville,Haymaking and various others
Liam Clancy sang a song from his own locality about a pyromaniac called Byrne. He sang a bi-lingual song about a pup (four legged of course )
Brian Mullins sang a few,as did Marty O'Malley,Jackie Devanney,Roisin White,Sinead Cahir. Geordie Hanna and Sara Anne O'Neill gave us a stave.And of course Frank Harte,the grand daddy of them all.
God it was a veritable "Who's Who "of the singing world at that time.

At tea time the session broke up as people scattered to get food etc. We approached Frank Harte for a chat and discovered that there was to be a singers get-together in Marinan's Pub in Milltown Malbay on that very night.
We grabbed a quick snack and went straight back to our field at Spanish Point,where we set up our tents in the exact spot we had vacated that morning.
When the singers arrived in Marinan's there we were in the choice seats waiting in great anticipation for the feast of songs.
We were not disappointed.
Brian Mullins sang Harry Hughes,Night Visit song and something about a nettle??
Sinead Caher sang Blue Eyed Lassie.
Len Graham sang Kane's Shady Glen and duetted with Joe Holmes on various songs and lilts.
Cathal McConnell sang Killaloe;Jackie Devanney sang Brocadh Hill and Frank Harte sang the great Child Ballad-Lady Margaret and the Ghost.
Thank God for the memories!!


Lady Margaret


Lady Margaret lay on her fine feather bed as the midnight hour drew near
When a ghostly form came to her room
And to her did appear,appear
And to her did appear


Are you my father ,the king ,she said,or are you my brother John
Or are you my true love William,she said
Coming home from Scotland along,along
Coming home from Scotland along


I'm not your father,the king,he said,nor am I your brother John
But I am your true love William,he said
Coming home from Scotland along,along
Coming home from Scotland along


Oh Margaret,oh Lady Margaret,he says for love or charity
Will you give me back the plighted troth
That once love I gave thee,gave thee
That once love I gave thee


I'll not give you back your plighted troth nor any such a thing
Till you take me to my father's hall
Where oft times we have been,have been
Where oft times we have been


So he's taken her to her father's hall and as they entered in
The doors flew open of their own free will,
To let young William in,in
To let young William in.


Oh Margaret ,oh Lady Margaret ,he says ,for love or charity
Will you now give me back my plighted troth
That once love I gave thee,gave thee
That once love I gave thee.


No,I'll not give you back your plighted troth,nor any such a thing
Till you take me to yon high churchyard
And marry me with a ring,a ring
And marry me with a ring


So he's taken her to yon high churchyard and as they entered in
The gates flew open of their own freewill
To let young William in,in
To let young William in


Oh Margaret,oh Lady Margaret, he said,for love or charity
Will you now give me back my plighted troth
That once love I gave thee,gave thee
That once love I gave thee


Then out of her pocket she drew a cross and placed it on his breast
Saying here is back your plighted troth
In Heaven may your soul find rest,find rest
In Heaven may your soul find rest


The wind does blow and the Moorcocks crow and it's nearly breaking day
It's time that the living should depart from the dead
So ,my love,I must away,away
My love,I must away.