The Town of Ballybay: Written by Tommy Makem in the mid-20th century (set to the traditional tune of “The Limerick Races”). A humorous folk ballad about a colourful lassie in Ballybay, popularised by Makem and others like Paddy Reilly.
In the town of Ballybay
There was a lassie dwelling
I knew her very well
And the story’s worth-a-telling
Her father owned a still
And he was a good distiller
But when she started drinking
Well the divil wouldn’t fill her
With my ring-a-ding-a-dong
Ring-a-ding-a-daddy-o
Ring-a-ding-a-dong
Whack fol the daddy-o
Well she had a wooden leg
That was hollow down the middle
She used to tie a string
And play it like a fiddle
She fiddled in the hall
She fiddled in the alleyway
She didn’t give a damn
She had the fiddle anyway
She said she couldn’t dance
Until she had her wellies on
And when she had them on
Sure she’d dance as well as anyone
She wouldn’t go to bed
Unless she had her shimmy on
And when she had it on
Sure she’d go to bed like anyone
She had lovers by the score
Every Tom, Dick and Harry
Courting night and day
But said she wouldn’t marry
Until she fell in love
With a fella with a stammer
He tried to run away
And she hit him with the hammer
She had children up the stairs
And children in the byre
Another ten or twelve
Sitting roaring by the fire
She fed them on potatoes
Soup she made from nettles
Lumps of hairy bacon
She boiled up in the kettle
Well she led a sheltered life
Eating porridge and black pudding
She terrorised her man
Until he died right sudden
And when her husband died
She wasn’t feeling sorry
She rolled him in a bag
And threw him in the quarry
Anthem of the county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Songs from the county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Monaghan:
Ireland’s county Monaghan offers a serene blend of rolling hills and cultural heritage, with the Monaghan County Museum showcasing local history through artefacts and exhibits. The scenic Rossmore Forest Park provides walking trails amidst lakes and woodlands, while Castle Leslie’s historic estate offers a glimpse into aristocratic life. Other attractions include the county’s traditional lace-making heritage and quiet countryside. Monaghan is Ireland’s sixth smallest county by size (1,291 square km) and fifth smallest by population (65,288). Population peaked at 200,442 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 45,732 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Monaghan is Ireland’s 25th most visited tourist county with around 58,000 international visitors per year.
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