"Rollicking Boys around Tanderagee" - Cathy Jordan feat. Andrew Hendy

"Rollicking Boys around Tanderagee"
Co. Armagh
Cathy Jordan - Vocals, bodhran
Andrew Hendy - Vocals, banjo
Sean Óg Graham - Guitar, accordion vocals, bass
Gino Lupari - Vocals, bodhran
Niamh Dunne - Vocals, violin, vocals
Wayne O’Connor - Original Crankie illustrations
Peter Crann - Project Coordinator
The original Jig has many names, Old gray Cat, Pat Burkes, Over The Hills etc...
The song is from the repertoire of Paddy Tunney who learned it from his uncle Mick Gallagher who died in 1891. Paddy Tunney describes the song in his book “The Stone Fiddle” as “a good humored swipe made at quite a few sacred cows”
Recorded at Bann View Studios Portglenone Co Antrim
Engineered by Sean Óg Graham
Mastered by Richard Ford
Lyrics;
Good luck to all here, now, barrin' the cat,
that sits in the corner smellin' a rat.
Boys, wheest your philanderin' now and behave,
and savin' your favors I'll chant you a stave.
I come from a land where the praties grow big,
and the boys nice and handy can whirl in a jig,
and the girls they would charm your heart for to see,
the darlin' colleens around Tanderagee.
So here's to the boys that's so happy and gay,
Singin' and dancin' and tearin' away,
Rollicksome, frolicsome, frisky and free,
We're the rollicking boys around Tanderagee.
No doubt you have heard of Killarney, I'm sure,
and sweet Inishowen for a drop of the pure.
Dublin's a place for the strawberry beds,
and Donnybrook fair for the breakin' of heads.
Did you ever see an Irishman dancin' paltogue,
as he faced up his partner and turned up his brogue.
He twisted the buckle and bent at the knee,
oh, they're wonderful dancers in Tanderagee.
Now, show me the man either Christian or Turk,
who could equal our brave Robbert Emmett or Burke,
and show me the speaker could speak up like Dan,
ach, divil another bad luck to the one,
Oh show me the singer could sing like Tom Moore,
his melodies charmed all care from our door,
But we'll beat them all yet, and that you will see,
for we're rare and fine boys around Tanderagee.
His old jauntin' car was the elegant joult,
and Derry's the place that is famed for her hoult,
Among the green bushes that grow in Tyrone,
and the County Fermanagh for muscle and bone.
For courtin' and blarney and fun at the fair,
there's no-one can equal the rakes of Kildare.
Green Erin my country's the gem of the sea,
but the gem of green Erin is Tanderagee.

[@tadhgmulligan]

class!! love this mon da town Andrew Hendy! Get Cathy Jordan and Dervish up to Dundalk for some creamy pints of porter and good Leitrim tunes!