NOTES
The Monks of the Screw, p. 102.—Curran belonged to a small convivial society in Dublin known by this name in the latter part of the last century. It included some of the most famous Irishmen of the time, and Curran was prior, and called his residence at Rathfarnham “The Priory” on that account.
To a Young Lady, etc., p. 132.—FromThe Shamrock, or Hibernian Cresses, 1772, a collection of poems edited and largely written by Samuel Whyte, the schoolmaster of Moore, Sheridan, etc.
Daniel O’Rourke, p. 175.—This was written for Crofton Croker by Dr. Maginn, together with other stories, and as they were included in the former’sFairy Legendswithout a signature, they have been always assigned to Croker.
Kitty of Coleraine, p. 188.—This very popular song is based on an old story, of which one version will be found in “La Cruche” by M. Autereau, a contemporary of La Fontaine, the fabulist, which is included in some editions of the latter’s works.
Brian O’Linn, p. 198.—This version is made up from several in the possession of Mr. P. J. McCall, of Dublin.
Bellewstown Hill, p. 228.—An inferior song on the same subject was written by Richard Sheil, a Drogheda printer and poet.
The Peeler and the Goat, p. 231.—This famous song, thought written at the time of, or very soon after, the establishment of the Irish police force, is still popular in Ireland. A version of it will be found in Gerald Griffin’sRivals, 1835.
Nell Flaherty’s Drake, p. 239.—Many versions of this ballad are to be found in the Irish ballad-slips. They are all corrupt and generally very gross.
Father Tom’s Wager with the Pope, p. 267.—This is extracted from the story of “Father Tom and the Pope,” which, though attributed to Dr. Maginn, John Fisher Murray, and others, was really written by Sir Samuel Ferguson. It appeared anonymously, in May 1838, inBlackwood’s Magazine, at the time of a famous controversy between a Father Maguire and the Rev. Mr. Pope.
Molly Muldoon, p. 273.—This poem was written about 1850, and its authorship has always been a mystery. An American journal once ascribed it to Fitzjames O’Brien, the Irish-American novelist.
Lanigan’s Ball, p. 306.—A version made up from several, and as near absolute correctness as seems possible.
The Widow’s Lament, p. 308.—This piece is of comparatively recent origin. It appeared in an Irish-American paper some years ago, and attempts to find its author have proved futile.
Whisky and Wather, p. 310.—Taken from a song-book published in Dublin, and there attributed in a vague way to “Zozimus” (Michael Moran), the once celebrated blind beggar of Dublin. He, however, could not have written it, any more than the other matters assumed to be his compositions because he recited them.
THE WALTER SCOTT PUBLISHING CO., LIMITED, FELLING-ON-TYNE.12-07
FOOTNOTES:[1]I.e., Wexford, the natives of which are nicknamed “yellow bellies,” from a legend current amongst them. Queen Elizabeth first gave them the name (so they say) on witnessing a hurling match when the Wexford men, with yellow scarves round their waists, won. Said the queen, “These Yellow Bellies are the finest fellows I’ve ever seen.”[2]Mourn.[3]Forsooth.[4]Law commentators of the time.[5]A celebrated and noisy French singer.[6]A noted French actress.[7]Hanged.[8]Generous, satisfying.[9]Fool.[10]My boy.[11]O’Connell’s.[12]Lament.[13]Catholic.[14]Anything eaten with potatoes.[15]A pig.[16]Be it so.[17]Hat.[18]A draw, a whiff.[19]Short pipe.[20]Darling of my heart.[21]Friend.[22]A forked stick.[23]Cudgel.[24]Come hither.[25]Evidentlysprissaun, a diminutive, expressing contempt.[26]Blockhead.[27]Puppy.[28]Lout.[29]Child.[30]Devil.[31]Knapawns, a huge potato.[32]Knasster, a big potato.[33]A seat made of straw or hay ropes.[34]Casoge, a coat.[35]Reclaimed mountain-land.[36]A species of diver.[37]The small toe.[38]GomorGommach—a fool.[39]Bard.[40]Harped.[41]Cudgels.[42]Beimedh a gole—Let us be drinking.[43]The “American wake” is the send-off given to people the night before their departure for America.[44]A hundred thousand welcomes—pron.cade meelya falltha.[45]Canavaun—blossom of the bog.[46]Floohool—generous.[47]Kindliest.[48]Woman of the house.[49]Doreen—small drop.[50]Colleen dhas—pretty girl.[51]Overcoat.[52]Indeed.[53]Woman of the house.[54]Suitable.[55]Girls.[56]Forsooth.[57]A kiss.[58]A blow.[59]Kiss.[60]Kiss.
[1]I.e., Wexford, the natives of which are nicknamed “yellow bellies,” from a legend current amongst them. Queen Elizabeth first gave them the name (so they say) on witnessing a hurling match when the Wexford men, with yellow scarves round their waists, won. Said the queen, “These Yellow Bellies are the finest fellows I’ve ever seen.”
[1]I.e., Wexford, the natives of which are nicknamed “yellow bellies,” from a legend current amongst them. Queen Elizabeth first gave them the name (so they say) on witnessing a hurling match when the Wexford men, with yellow scarves round their waists, won. Said the queen, “These Yellow Bellies are the finest fellows I’ve ever seen.”
[2]Mourn.
[2]Mourn.
[3]Forsooth.
[3]Forsooth.
[4]Law commentators of the time.
[4]Law commentators of the time.
[5]A celebrated and noisy French singer.
[5]A celebrated and noisy French singer.
[6]A noted French actress.
[6]A noted French actress.
[7]Hanged.
[7]Hanged.
[8]Generous, satisfying.
[8]Generous, satisfying.
[9]Fool.
[9]Fool.
[10]My boy.
[10]My boy.
[11]O’Connell’s.
[11]O’Connell’s.
[12]Lament.
[12]Lament.
[13]Catholic.
[13]Catholic.
[14]Anything eaten with potatoes.
[14]Anything eaten with potatoes.
[15]A pig.
[15]A pig.
[16]Be it so.
[16]Be it so.
[17]Hat.
[17]Hat.
[18]A draw, a whiff.
[18]A draw, a whiff.
[19]Short pipe.
[19]Short pipe.
[20]Darling of my heart.
[20]Darling of my heart.
[21]Friend.
[21]Friend.
[22]A forked stick.
[22]A forked stick.
[23]Cudgel.
[23]Cudgel.
[24]Come hither.
[24]Come hither.
[25]Evidentlysprissaun, a diminutive, expressing contempt.
[25]Evidentlysprissaun, a diminutive, expressing contempt.
[26]Blockhead.
[26]Blockhead.
[27]Puppy.
[27]Puppy.
[28]Lout.
[28]Lout.
[29]Child.
[29]Child.
[30]Devil.
[30]Devil.
[31]Knapawns, a huge potato.
[31]Knapawns, a huge potato.
[32]Knasster, a big potato.
[32]Knasster, a big potato.
[33]A seat made of straw or hay ropes.
[33]A seat made of straw or hay ropes.
[34]Casoge, a coat.
[34]Casoge, a coat.
[35]Reclaimed mountain-land.
[35]Reclaimed mountain-land.
[36]A species of diver.
[36]A species of diver.
[37]The small toe.
[37]The small toe.
[38]GomorGommach—a fool.
[38]GomorGommach—a fool.
[39]Bard.
[39]Bard.
[40]Harped.
[40]Harped.
[41]Cudgels.
[41]Cudgels.
[42]Beimedh a gole—Let us be drinking.
[42]Beimedh a gole—Let us be drinking.
[43]The “American wake” is the send-off given to people the night before their departure for America.
[43]The “American wake” is the send-off given to people the night before their departure for America.
[44]A hundred thousand welcomes—pron.cade meelya falltha.
[44]A hundred thousand welcomes—pron.cade meelya falltha.
[45]Canavaun—blossom of the bog.
[45]Canavaun—blossom of the bog.
[46]Floohool—generous.
[46]Floohool—generous.
[47]Kindliest.
[47]Kindliest.
[48]Woman of the house.
[48]Woman of the house.
[49]Doreen—small drop.
[49]Doreen—small drop.
[50]Colleen dhas—pretty girl.
[50]Colleen dhas—pretty girl.
[51]Overcoat.
[51]Overcoat.
[52]Indeed.
[52]Indeed.
[53]Woman of the house.
[53]Woman of the house.
[54]Suitable.
[54]Suitable.
[55]Girls.
[55]Girls.
[56]Forsooth.
[56]Forsooth.
[57]A kiss.
[57]A kiss.
[58]A blow.
[58]A blow.
[59]Kiss.
[59]Kiss.
[60]Kiss.
[60]Kiss.
Transcriber’s Notes:1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently.2. Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have been retained as in the original.3. Where appropriate, the original spelling has been retained.