This is one of the first Irish songs I learned from the first book of Irish songs I happened to find, Seán O'Boyle's The Irish Song Tradition (Gilbert Dalton, 1976). But I must credit Sinead Cathir for the style in which I sing it. I was fortunate to learn fairly quickly that the Irish singing tradition is essentially oral and that you cannot properly learn a song from a book.
This song is one of the many Irish songs rooted in a particular place (this one in the west central part of County Down). The composer praises the most beautiful girl in the town of Magherally. It was probably composed by an unknown hedge school master, for it includes the usual share of classical allusions of that genre. There is an implication in the last verse of a potential problem with this union, but the narrator's determination and optimism will override any obstacles. Again, like many Irish songs, there is no definite conclusion to the story behind the song. The listener is left to wonder if the hoped-for match was successfully concluded. The song is essentially lyrical, not narrative.
Numerous recordings have been made of this song; some of them are available on YouTube.
lyrics
3. Flower of Magherally
(Roud 3009) Traditional
One pleasant summer's morning when all the flowers were springing-oh,
Nature was adorning and the wee birds sweetly singing-oh.
I met my love near Banbridge town, my charming, blue-eyed Sally-oh,
She's the queen of the County Down, my flower of Magherally-oh.
With admiration I did gaze upon this fair-haired maiden-oh.
Adam was not half so plaised when he met Eve in Eden-oh.
Her skin was like the lily white that grows in yonder valley-oh.
She's my queen and my heart's delight, my flower of Magherally-oh.
Her hair in golden ringlets hung, her boots of Spanish leather-oh,
Her bonnet with blue ribbons strung, her scarlet cap and feather-oh.
Like Venus bright she did appear, my charming, blue-eyed Sally-oh;
She's the girl I love so dear, my flower of Magherally-oh.
I hope the day will surely come when we'll join hands together-oh.
It's then I'll bring my true-love home, in spite of wind and weather-oh.
And let them all say what they will, and let them reel and rally-oh,
For I shall wed the one I love, my flower of Magherally-oh.
David entertains in the old-fashioned way, with warmth and wit, as if he were sitting with the audience around the turf fire
in an Irish cottage long ago. David has been singing old-style Irish songs for 40 years and is deeply invested in collecting, researching, and performing them authentically and entertainingly....more
