Songs, Tunes, Poetry & Art
A number of songs, tunes and poems has been written about Glenshesk, which of course is no surprise, as one of the most beautiful parts of this island. In fact one of the most famous songs from the North of Ireland, “The Ould Lammas Fair”, was written by Glenshesk man John Henry MacAulay, who was brought up in the townland of Clare. After a tragic accident at the Glenshesk Bridge on the way to School, he retrained as a Wood Carver, and eventually moved to Ann Street in Ballycastle, beside the current McListers Shop. A line in the famous song, “There’s a neat little cabin on the slopes of fair Knocklayde” is thought to refer to his home, which was indeed a whitewashed cottage at Clare. The full song is below, plus a few other songs, tunes and poems about Glenshesk, as well as some inspired art.
Ould Lammas Fair
by John Henry MacAulay
At the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle long ago
I met a pretty colleen who set me heart a-glow
She was smiling at her daddy buying lambs from Paddy Roe
At the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O
Sure I seen her home that night
When the moon was shining bright
From the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O
CHORUS
At the ould Lammas Fair boys were you ever there
Were you ever at the Fair In Ballycastle-O?
Did you treat your Mary Ann to some Dulse and Yellow Man
At the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O
In Flander’s fields afar while resting from the War
We drank Bon Sante to the Flemish lassies O
But the scene that haunts my memory is kissing Mary Ann
Her pouting lips all sticky from eating Yellow Man
As we passed the silver Margy and we strolled along the strand
From the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O
Chorus
There’s a neat little cabin on the slopes of fair Knocklayde
It’s lit by love and sunshine where the heather honey’s made
With the bees ever humming and the children’s joyous call
Resounds across the valley as the shadows fall
Sure I take my fiddle down and my Mary smiling there
Brings back a happy mem’ry of the Lammas Fair
Chorus
LOVELY GLENSHESK
One fine summer’s evening I was forced to my pen
To write down the praises of the top of the glen,
Where the small birds enchanted in every green tree,
Their songs of love practice to the highest degree.
And they who pass through say farewell with a sigh;
Fresh lakes and spring wells there, they shine calm and clear,
They were born to good fortune, had the luck to dwell here.
In you, sweet Glenshesk, I have dwelt since a boy,
Three miles from the Mairge and three from Armoy;
When Phoebus arises he there throws his beam,
It will grieve me far off for to mention your name.
My forefathers fought at the battle of Orra,
No wonder it grieves me to leave you tomorrow,
I’m leaving the country I love, without blame,
My fortune is nothing, M’Quillan’s my name.
Sam Henry’s Songs of the People, #H544: 5 May 1934. Page 165
Source not given.
IN PRAISE OF THE GLEN
This evening I take my departure
From the lovely place where I was bred,
While my friends and relations flock round me,
Which causes my tears for to shed
When I think I am going to leave them
And never to stand in this place;
No wonder it grieves me to leave them
In the parting you, lovely Glenshesk.
I feel like the Hebrews in bondage
Who murmured at their going away,
And would rather turn back to their burdens
Which oppressed them by night and by day,
But Moses gave to them the promise
Of a land where their souls might find rest;
No wonder it grieves me to leave you
And part with you, lovely Glenshesk.
Farewell to you, Glenshesk sweet waters,
Sweet stream that does gently flow down,
And likewise to sweet Ballycastle,
A place of great fame and renown,
And to Knocklayde, the pride of old Ireland,
By nature a beautiful place;
No wonder it grieves me to leave you
In the parting you, lovely Glenshesk.
My full name it is John M’Cormick,
I have penned these few verses in rhyme,
And I hope that we’ll all meet in glory,
In happiness ever to shine.
I hope that we all meet in glory.
Too much of your time I did waste,
So give me your blessing this evening,
And a long, long farewell to Glenshesk.
Sam Henry’s Songs of the People, #H547: 26 May 1934. Page 195-196.
Source: not given
Finn McCoul and The Dog Bran:
By James Stoddard Moore
(Dusty Rhodes)
As Finn MacCoul went hunting
One Summer’s afternoon
In dark Glenshesk’s deep valley,
Beneath the silvery moon,
His good dog Bran before the rest
Fast on the red deer came,
The bravest dog that ever ran,
A hound of ancient fame.
He soon overtook the flying deer,
And pulled the quarry down,
Slaying another of the herd,
To add to his renown,
Returning to his master,
He soon appeared in view,
His gory jaws were open wide,
From which the foam flecks flew.
Now, Finn MacCoul was sore afraid,
When thus the dog he saw
Fast bounding to his master’s side,
Blood dripping from it’s jaw.
He placed an arrow in the bow,
And fast the string he drew,
And by a true and well-aimed shaft
His faithful hound he slew
Now Finn was wild because he slew
His faithful greyhound so,
Through when the dog appeared in view
His fate he did not know.
And from that day brave Finn became
A sad and altered man,
Still crying, “A mauvroun, I’ve slain
My faithful servant Bran.”
Glenshesk Chapel
Just come and see our Chapel
Some Sunday if you can
The outside is very nice
But the inside is something grand.
The work was done by Charlie
With Fr John directing all the way
They did a very hefty job
Whilst all we’d got to do was pay
They did each job a couple of times or more
For when it was completed
They took it down again
To see what way it looked before.
Some people don’t like our stained glass windows
They spoil the view they say
But we don’t go to mass to look around
We go to mass to pray
Joe McCaughan, The Hollow, Glenshesk, 1959
Our Garden
Our garden was a wilderness
nearly thirty years ago,
backbreaking work to clear it
using shovel, spade and hoe.
We were so much younger then
but still it took some time,
to dig the garden over
and dress it all the time.
Surrounded by a lovely hedge
with clematis in between,
patches of heather above the lawn
showing every shade of purple, white and green;
hollyhocks are splendid,
delphinium pink and blue,
and lilies growing everywhere
of every height and hue;
buddleia for the butterfly,
lupins for the bee,
standing stately on the lawn
a beautiful monkey-puzzle tree.
Heavenly scent of lavender
when day has just begun,
the happy faces of pansies
laughing in the sun;
tomatoes in the greenhouse,
gladiolas standing tall,
trying to outdo the agapanthus,
my favourite flower of all.
Now we have retired
with our garden full of flowers,
we don’t regret one moment
of those rewarding hours;
after all the years of effort
what a happy place to be,
sitting together in the gazebo
enjoying a cup of tea.
Betty McCaughan, Uaigh, Glenshesk
Leo Brown – Musician
Leo Brown from Greenans, Glenshesk, Ballycastle, was one of the best-known and gifted traditional musicians in North Antrim. Leo was a Inspector with the Ministry of Agriculture. He was also a well-known and loved musician, and played regularly across the Glens, He was also a prolific composer and arranger in the traditional style. His gift for adapting similar melodic motifs to different rhythms is well demonstrated in his own tunes which appeared on various albums, and also had the versatility to be able to play in a group and as a soloist.
This link gives you an idea of some of his work. https://thesession.org/recordings/1050
On a separate note, Leo was known during the 70’s and 80’s for driving a Volkswagen Beetle which was an unusual vehicle in the Glens at that time. When taking his own children to the bus stop at the end of the “Inlet” in Glenshesk, he often offered a lift to other children which was a real treat, not to mention a possible world record for the number of people able to squeeze into a Beetle!
Other Fiddle Players in Glenshesk
Willie Weir
Willie stayed at Tenaghs, Glenshesk, where he died unmarried. Willie was a fiddler and a singer, who could imitate bird song.
He was also a good actor who acted in a number of local productions.
Randal McDonnell
Randal was a brother of Jamie McDonnell the contractor. He used to perform at dances held in Greenans School, Glenshesk.
He played the pipes, melodeon, fiddle and mouth organ.
Information courtesy of “Fiddle Players from North Antrim”, by Dick Glasgow
The broken fiddle!
Kevin Francis McCaughan of Duncarbit tells a story that he heard from his grandmother of a famous ceilidh that took place at a remote farm (pictured) in Drumacullin along the side of Duncarbit Mountain, around the 1870’s. This particular farm is miles from any other farmstead in the glen and really is quite a trek to get too. One night the family who lived here organised a ceile, which were commonplace throughout the glens then. Apart from the neighbour’s who were invited, a local fiddler was booked. On the night in question all travelled up the mountain to the event on a very dark winter night, with not a light in miles to guide their way. When the evening’s craic was finished, the fiddlers and guests slowly made their way home. However as the fiddler made his way over the mountain and through the bogs, he stumbled and ended up standing on his precious fiddle! Sadly, that was the end of it, and no doubt he had to seek out a replacement from one of the local fiddle makers in the glens.
Cross & Passion Convent Ballad and School Song, from1940’s
The Glen on canvas
As well as poetry and song, the beauty of Glenshesk has been captured over the decades by many artists. Here we have a nice picture of artist Sam McLarnon, painting the Glen Church in the 1980’s.Sam was born in 1924 in Larne, and in his adult life painted nearly every day up until his death in 2012, aged 89. He loved the North Antrim coast, particularly Fair Head which was a favourite subject. This fine painting of the Glen Church (Church of the Immaculate Conception), looks better than the actual church on the day it was painted! Photo – Brian McCaughan
