was occasioned by an opinion they conceived that my principles did not in all things agree with their own. (Signed) "THO: LIMERICK." Speaking of the enjoyments of the people of Limerick at fair time or on festival days, Fitzgerald and MacGregor notice in their history, a fondness for music of the fiddle or bagpipe. Amongst the airs selected upon these occasions, Patrick's Day,' and Garryowen,' always hold a distinguished place.” Let Bacchus's sons be not dismayed, Instead of Spa* we'll drink brown ale, We are the boys that take delight in Instead, &c. * The spa of Castle Connell, about six miles from Limerick, was in high repute at the period when this song was written. "Circular tablets of metal in the Exchange, so called, and where it was customary to pay down the earnest money."-SIR CHARLES O'DONNELL. 66 Paying the reckoning on the nail," was a cant phrase for knocking a man on the head. "Nail him," being equivalent to "knock him down." + Lamps were first put up in the streets of Limerick at the sole expense of Alderman Thomas Rose, in 1696."-FERRAR'S Limerick. We'll break windows, we'll break doors, The watch knock down by threes and fours; And tinker up our bruises. Instead, &c. We'll beat the bailiffs, out of fun, We'll make the mayor and sheriffs run; We are the boys no man dares dun, If he regards a whole skin. Instead, &c. Our hearts, so stout, have got us fame, For soon 'tis known from whence we came ; Where'er we go they dread the name Of Garryowen in glory. Instead, &c. Johnny Connell's tall and straight, He'll pitch a bar of any weight, From Garryowen to Thomond Gate.* Instead, &c. Garryowen is gone to rack Since Johnny Connell went to Cork, Though Darby O'Brien leapt over the dock. In spite of judge and jury. Instead, &c. * That is, from one side of Limerick to the other. In Fitzgerald and MacGregor's "History of Limerick," when noticing the customs and amusements of the lower orders, it is stated that the tradesmen formerly marched in grotesque procession on Midsummer-day, and that "the day generally ended in a terrible fight between the Garryowen and Thomond Gate boys,-the tradesmen of the north and south suburbs." THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK BUCK-HUNT. From a manuscript copy, most obligingly procured for the Editor by Miss Crumpe. In Fitzgerald and MacGregor's "History of Limerick" (vol. ii. Appendix, p. 50), it is stated that the popular song of, "By your leave, Larry Grogan," was made on Edward Croker, Esq., of Rawleighstown, high-sheriff of the county in 1735, “by the late Pierce Creagh of Dangan, Esq." Mr. Grogan is traditionally said to have composed a song upon the vagaries of a disappointed suitor of Miss Alicia Croker, which became exceedingly popular;* she was the high sheriff's second sister, and is the Miss Croker mentioned in the fifth verse of the following song: "Let no nice sir despise the hapless dame, Because recording ballads chant her name.' No doubt all the beautiful lasses toasted in that verse were celebrated belles. Who Miss Cherry Singleton and Miss Sally Curry were, the Editor is unable to determine. "Ally Croker" married Charles Langley, Esq., of Lisnarnock, county of Kilkenny, and died at an advanced age, without children to inherit their mother's charms, which only live in song. A sampler, worked by the hands of the fair Alice, was carefully preserved at Ballydavid, a seat of the Baker family, in the county of Tipperary, and hung in an old oak frame, over the fireplace of the dining-room a venerated relic. * See Boswell's "Johnson," vii. 84, Murray's 10 vol. ed.; Hone's Every-day Book," col. 1641; Nichols'" Collection of Poems," &c. + His eldest sister had married John Dillon, Esq., of Quartertown, in the county of Cork. Miss Bligh was the eldest sister of the first Earl of Darnley. Her second brother, who was an officer of dragoons, had married, about the period that the song was written, the sister of William Bury, Esq., of Shannon Grove, in the county of Limerick; she subsequently (in 1748) became the wife of Thomas Le Hunte, Esq., M.P. for Wexford, and died in 1772, without issue. Miss Prittie, whose sister Mr. Croker had married, was the eldest daughter of Henry Prittie, Esq., of Kilboy, county of Tipperary, and married, in 1736, Sir Richard Meade, Bart., M.P. for Kinsale. Their son was created Earl of Clanwilliam. She afterwards married the Right Honourable Sir Henry Cavendish, Bart, and died in 1779. Miss Persse was of a Galway family; but it is not in the Editor's power to add any particulars respecting this "subject for verse." By your leave, Larry Grogan,* Enough has been spoken; 'Tis time to give over your sonnet, your sonnet.† Come listen to mine, 'Tis far better than thine, Though not half the time was spent on, spent on it. * A celebrated amateur piper, of the family of Grogan of Johnstown Castle, in the county of Wexford. In the early part of the last century commonly used for song, or ballad. For instance, in an imitation of the famous ballad of " Molly Mogg" "Now if Curl will print me this sonnet, To a volume my verses shall swell; Oh! 'tis of a buck slain In this very campaign: To let him live longer 'twere pity, 'twere pity; For head and for branches, A council assembled (Who'd think but he trembled ?), Of lads of good spirit, well mounted, well mounted; And spurs made at Ripon,* To the number of twenty were counted, were counted. Off, a score, we went bounding, Sweet horns were sounding, Each youth filled the air with a whoop and a halloo; * Or Rippon, in Yorkshire. Rippon spurs were formerly very famous. 66 -Why, there's an angel, if my spurs Be not right Rippon.'-BEN JONSON'S Staple of N., i. 3. Whip me with wire, headed with rowels of Sharp Rippon spurs.'-The Wits, Old Play, viii. p. 501. Ray has a local proverb,- As true steel as Rippon rowels ;' with this note subjoined: It is said of trusty persons, men of metal, faithful in their employments. Rippon, in this county, is a town famous for the best spurs of England, whose rowels may be enforced to strike through a shilling, and will break sooner than bow.'-P. 263. Fuller has the same saying and explanation. A modern account of Rippon says, that 'when James I. went there, in 1617, he was presented by the corporation with a gilt bow, and a pair of spurs: the latter article cost 5l. It is said, also, that this manufacture is now neglected there.""-NARES's Glossary. |