John Arnold: Danny Boy, Noreen Bawn... my picks for Ulster’s finest songs

I meet up with two good friends, Tommy and Jim, every five or six weeks - for a leisurely breakfast and a hurling chat.

In fairness to us three wise men, we usually have our consumption finished within two or three hours!

Well, last year in Midleton one breakfast-time, we invited a special guest who consented to join the established trio. Now, our guest was also a hurling man but most of all an outstanding singer. That morning, Art Supple brought down the house with his legendary version of Noreen Bawn.

I mention this because a few months back, I wandered musically around the country recalling the different songs that I associate with Irish counties. I finished my travails of Munster and Connacht as I headed for Ulster.

Few can match Art’s rendition of Noreen Bawn and I wondered over the years about the story behind the song. Written by Neill McBride in 1910, it’s a tale of emigration and sadness evocative of much of our history.

The basis of the song was the story of Bridget Gallagher, of Oughdarragh townland, who emigrated to America like thousands before her. At the age of 23, and very ill, she returned home but died shortly afterwards. She is buried in Doe Cemetery not far from her native place - a plaque in her memory was unveiled in 2012.

There are many, versions of the song - many will know the line ‘who charmed the hearts of men’, in the original song it was ‘who inspired the poet’s pen’.

My other Donegal ‘anthem’ begins with the words, ‘I just dropped in to you all/I’ll only stay awhile’ - The Homes Of Donegal, Paul Brady sings a classic version.

I know it’s often butchered, bothered, and bewildered, but to my mind nothing matches a well-sung Danny Boy. It’s a Derry song but much more than that as it reflects so much the story of Ireland.

Musicologists say the words were written around 1910 (same year as Noreen Bawn!) by Frederic Weatherly, an English lawyer. Published in 1913, we often hear that the tune comes from ‘an old Irish melody, the Londonderry Air’.

Now, the phrase Londonderry was only coined, by English Settlers in Ulster, in 1613 - yerra, I think the tune for Danny Boy dates way back into the mists of time.

The Town I Love So Well has become a modern classic. Penned by the writer of Puppet On A String, Phil Coulter, it’s a song of struggle and also hope for a ‘bright brand new day in the town I love so well’.

I’ve not been to Derry - hopefully sooner than later.

Armagh is a county dear to my heart. It’s said that Saints Patrick, Bridgid and Colmcille are buried in Downpatrick, yet in the song The Boys Of The County Armagh, we’re told the county and city of Armagh bear ‘the ashes of Brian Boru’ - the remains of the King slain at Clontarf on Good Friday, 1014, are reputedly buried in a grave ‘next to that of St Patrick’!

Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiach said it was the song closest to his heart. After the Armagh football team recently won the Ulster Final, the supporters gave an emotional rendition of the song - only bettered by the singing in Croke Park in 2022 with ‘Sam’.

Thrice ever I was in County Fermanagh - back in the 1990s, I visited Lough Derg three years in a row.

Eating black bread and Lough Derg ‘Soup’ was no bother, but the mosquitoes were specially trained to keep taking little bites out of all parts of my anatomy - no fear I’d fall asleep.

I was fascinated by the village of Pettigo, which straddles the Donegal/Fermanagh border - some shops there would only take Irish money in the mid ’90s, others, further up the street accepted sterling and nothing else!

The rousing version of The Enniskillen Dragoons by The Dubliners is my No 1 for the County of Fr Brian Darcy, Adrian Dunbar, and Seán Quinn. The beautiful Flora fell in love with a handsome Dragoon much to the disdain of her father and mother;

Flora dear Flora your pardon I crave

It’s now and forever that I’ll be your slave

Your parents have insulted both morn, night and noon

Because you would wed an Enniskillen Dragoon.

Many years ago, Bartlemy Macra na Feirme did a show based on the songs of Percy French. He died in 1920 but his compositions remain as popular as ever. One of his best is my Cavan ‘anthem’- Come Back Paddy Reilly To Ballyjamesduff.

I’ve been to the county only twice that I can recall. The first time on our way home from a family wedding in Sligo. On that occasion, we paid a visit to see Dr William (Billy) Arnold in Gowna. His ancestors and mine have the same family tree roots back in the 1800s. Their seed and breed scattered in different directions - one branch to Cavan and another to Arklow.

Strangely, I have never been to Ballyjamesduff, but it wouldn’t take much for me to start up with ‘The garden of Eden has vanished they say, but I know the lie of it still, just turn to the left at the bridge of Finea and stop when halfway to Cootehill...’

It’s a grand old song, but as popular as ever, and sure there are Reillys everywhere in Cavan.

By the way, if you’re ever stuck for anything from an anchor to a mouse trap, make sure to visit Arnold’s Hardware in Virginia - third cousins once removed.

If I had to choose a ‘No 2’ for people from the Breffni County, it would be Cavan Girl, written by the late, great Thom Moore.

I’m always quoting Patrick Kavanagh, the man from Mucker, Inniskeen, and I must visit the centre dedicated to the man who wrote Raglan Road. He wrote that in honour of and as a tribute to the beautiful Hilda Moriarty - by his own admission, Kavanagh was besotted and infatuated by the Kerry girl.

The song made famous by Luke Kelly can claim Monaghan ‘roots’ but is surely a Dublin favourite.

A few years back at Donncha Ó Dúlaing’s funeral in Dublin, I met the great Paddy Cole from ’Blayney.

Oram is a smaller place, but the home of Big Tom McBride, and his Gentle Mother is the song that reminds me of Monaghan and its musical heritage.

If I was forced to choose between The Green Glens Of Antrim and Carrickfergus as my favourite Antrim ballad, well ’twould be difficult.

The Green Glens has a special meaning for me. My cousin Peg Scanlan was a patient in a mental hospital for nigh on 50 years, but I only really got to know her in the last five years of her life. She spoke very little.

One night when visiting, I was kinda humming that song and didn’t Peg join in and she knew every line!

Antrim is so beautiful with those magical glens. You know, the places mentioned in Carrickfergus, like Kilkenny and Ballygrant, are actually Kilmeney in Scotland and a local parish there - Ballygrant! Sin sceal eile.

We often danced in the Top Hat and the Majestic to Hugo Duncan and his band. One of his hits was The Pretty Little Girl From Omagh - in the County Tyrone. It’s a county still on my ‘to visit list’.

Last week, it was plunged into sadness with the death of Frank ‘the King’ McGuigan, of Ireland’s best ever Gaelic footballers. Having heard it for the first time these past few mourning days, I think The Old Cross Of Ardboe (where Frank was from), represents everything good about the Red hand County.

No song ever written is more evocative than ‘ O Mary this London’s a wonderful place... - Percy French’s The Mountains Of Mourne. I’ve been there and truly those mountains ‘sweep down to the sea’.

Well, that’s Ulster done in my rambles through Erin. I’ll go through the Wicklow Hills, the Old Bog, the Roads of Kildare and Boolavogue in the future.