14. The Creggan White Hare
(Roud 9633) Traditional

In the lowlands of Creggan there lived a white hare,
She was swift as a swallow that flies through the air.
You may search the world over but there's none can compare
To the pride of low Creggan, the Bonnie White Hare.

Now one bright Sunday morning, as you may suppose,
When the gold autumn sun o'er the green fields arose,
Barney Conway came 'round, saying, "This I declare:
I'll soon put an end to the Bonnie White Hare.

So he searched through the lowlands, he searched through the glen,
He searched the green rushes where the hare had her den,
Till at last, coming home, on a bog bank so bare,
From behind a big thistle out jumped the white hare.

And bang when his gun and his dog he set to,
As o'er the green fields the white hare she flew.
But his dog, he returned, which made poor Barney sigh,
For he knew that the white hare had bid him good-bye.

Now some jolly young sportsmen came down from Pomeroy,
From Dungannon and Cookstown and likewise the Moy,
With their pedigree hounds that they brought from afar,
And they landed in Creggan in their big motor car.

'Twas down through the lowlands these sportsmen, they went;
To kill the white hare, sure it was their intent.
Till at last Barney Conway, when he came to her lair,
Shouted out to the sportsmen, "Here lies your white hare!"

So they called their greyhounds in from off the green lea,
And Barney and the sportsmen, they jumped high with glee,
For there on the bog bank, as they all gathered around,
Seven men and nine dogs did the white hare surround.

And oh, how the white hare did tremble with fear,
As she stood by her den and she lifted one ear,
But she riz on her toes and with one gallant spring,
Lepping over the greyhounds, she broke through the ring!

Oh, and then was the chase--what a glorious view!
As o'er the green fields, sure, the white hare she flew.
But their pedigree hounds, well they didn't go far,
They came back and went home in their big motor car.

And now to conclude and to finish my song,
I am hoping that I have not kept you too long;
But if ever you're up at the Creggan Boar Fair,
Drink a jolly good health to the Creggan White Hare!