“The Town of Oranmore (If You Ever Go Over to Ireland)”

Description

Singer, possibly American, warns against women of Ireland; one of them has made a fool of him. He picks her up; she asks him to take her to dinner at Cleary's; he wraps her in his cloak; she scratches his nose, tears his clothes, and, apparently, robs him

Notes

The plot is somewhat confused. Oranmore is located at the extreme east of Galway Bay, and it was a popular place for Travellers to part their caravans, especially around the time of the Galway race meeting. The song originated in the Irish music-halls. - PJS

Hall, notes to Voice04: "in the McNulty Family's original it is his bank roll she swipes." - BS

Recordings

• Margaret Barry, "If You Ever Go Over to Ireland" (on Voice04)
• Margaret Barry w. Michael Gorman, "If You Ever Go Over to Ireland (The Town of Oranmore)" (on Pubs1)

References

1. Roud #5277
2. BI, RcToOran