The Homes of Donegal
Encyclopedia
"The Homes of Donegal" is an Irish
ballad written by songwriter Seán McBride in 1955. It has been performed by many singers, most famously by Paul Brady
.
McBride was a native of Cruit Island
which is in the Rosses
area of County Donegal
. He was a school Teacher at St.Baithin's school in the Carrigans
/St.Johnston area (East Donegal
) for most of his life. He died at the age of 90 in August 1996 and is buried on his native Cruit Island.
Seán only wrote the lyrics, the actual air itself may be 150 or more years old, there are many songs around using the same melody, the closest one is a song called "The Faughan Side", This song was part of the Curriculum in national schools in East Donegal and as Seán was a Teacher in the "Laggan Valley" (South Inishowen) It seems prudent to many people to assume he got his inspiration for the "Homes of Donegal" from "The Faughan Side".
I want to see how you're getting on, I want to see you smile.
I'm happy to be back again, I greet you big and small,
For there's no place else on earth just like the homes of Donegal.
I always see the happy faces, smiling at the door,
The kettle swinging on the crook, as I step up the floor.
And soon the taypot's fillin' up me cup that's far from small,
For your hearts are like your mountains, in the homes of Donegal.
To see your homes at parting day of that I never tire,
And hear the porridge bubblin' in a big pot on the fire.
The lamp alight, the dresser bright, the big clock on the wall,
O, a sight serene, celestial scene, in the homes of Donegal.
I long to sit along with you and while away the night,
With tales of yore and fairy lore, beside your fires so bright,
And then to see prepared for me a shake-down by the wall.
There's repose for weary wanderers, in the homes of Donegal.
Outside the night winds shriek and howl, inside there's peace and calm,
A picture on the wall up there, our saviour with a lamp,
The hope of wandering sheep like me and all who rise and fall.
There's a touch of heavenly love around the homes of Donegal.
A tramp I am and a tramp I've been, a tramp I'll always he,
Me father tramped, me mother tramped, sure trampin's bred in me.
If some there are my ways disdain and won't have me at all,
Sure I'll always find a welcome in the homes of Donegal.
The time has come and I must go, I bid you all adieu,
The open highway calls me forth to do the things I do.
And when I'm trampin' far away I'll hear your voices call,
And please God I'll soon return unto the homes of Donegal.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
ballad written by songwriter Seán McBride in 1955. It has been performed by many singers, most famously by Paul Brady
Paul Brady
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...
.
McBride was a native of Cruit Island
Cruit Island
Cruit Island is a small inhabited island in the Rosses region of County Donegal, Ireland...
which is in the Rosses
The Rosses
The Rosses is a geographical and social region in the west of County Donegal, Ireland, centred around the town of Dungloe, which acts as the educational, shopping and civil centre for the area...
area of County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was a school Teacher at St.Baithin's school in the Carrigans
Carrigans
Carrigans is a village in The Laggan, a district in the east of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The village is located only a short distance from the River Foyle on the R236 regional road....
/St.Johnston area (East Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
) for most of his life. He died at the age of 90 in August 1996 and is buried on his native Cruit Island.
Seán only wrote the lyrics, the actual air itself may be 150 or more years old, there are many songs around using the same melody, the closest one is a song called "The Faughan Side", This song was part of the Curriculum in national schools in East Donegal and as Seán was a Teacher in the "Laggan Valley" (South Inishowen) It seems prudent to many people to assume he got his inspiration for the "Homes of Donegal" from "The Faughan Side".
Lyrics
I've just called in to see you all, I'll only stay a while.I want to see how you're getting on, I want to see you smile.
I'm happy to be back again, I greet you big and small,
For there's no place else on earth just like the homes of Donegal.
I always see the happy faces, smiling at the door,
The kettle swinging on the crook, as I step up the floor.
And soon the taypot's fillin' up me cup that's far from small,
For your hearts are like your mountains, in the homes of Donegal.
To see your homes at parting day of that I never tire,
And hear the porridge bubblin' in a big pot on the fire.
The lamp alight, the dresser bright, the big clock on the wall,
O, a sight serene, celestial scene, in the homes of Donegal.
I long to sit along with you and while away the night,
With tales of yore and fairy lore, beside your fires so bright,
And then to see prepared for me a shake-down by the wall.
There's repose for weary wanderers, in the homes of Donegal.
Outside the night winds shriek and howl, inside there's peace and calm,
A picture on the wall up there, our saviour with a lamp,
The hope of wandering sheep like me and all who rise and fall.
There's a touch of heavenly love around the homes of Donegal.
A tramp I am and a tramp I've been, a tramp I'll always he,
Me father tramped, me mother tramped, sure trampin's bred in me.
If some there are my ways disdain and won't have me at all,
Sure I'll always find a welcome in the homes of Donegal.
The time has come and I must go, I bid you all adieu,
The open highway calls me forth to do the things I do.
And when I'm trampin' far away I'll hear your voices call,
And please God I'll soon return unto the homes of Donegal.