“Lurgan Town (II)”

Description

Catholic Inspector Hancock has changed Lurgan. You'd be jailed two days for singing an Orange song. He keeps the Fenian meetings safe. The police come to our dance and dance the girls to Garryowen. He breaks up an Orange demonstration on July 12.

Notes

OLochlainn-More: "The ballad was occasioned by the unpopular appointment of a Catholic Inspector of Police in Lurgan, Co. Armagh."

July 12 celebrates the Battle of the Boyne, 1690. When Hancock breaks up the demonstration, says the song, "We turned, shook hands, all we could do Was say 'Boys remember the Boyne water!'" - BS

References

  1. OLochlainn-More 54, "Lurgan Town" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. OrangeLark 21, "Lurgan Town" (1 text, 1 tune)
  3. Roud #6870
  4. BI, OLcM054

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1959 (OLochlainn-More)
Found in: Ireland