PREFACE.

So many collections of what are called Irish popular songs are before the public, under various fanciful names, such as "The Shamrock," "The Harp of Erin," "The Hibernian Minstrel," &c., that some apology appears necessary for adding another to the number.

And here it may be proper to reply to a question which has been asked, In what particulars Irish and English song differ? Ritson states, that" The distinction between Scottish and English songs, it is conceived, arises, not from the language in which they are written, for that may be common to both; but, from the country to which they respectively belong, and of which their authors are natives. This

discrimination," continues Ritson, "does not so necessarily or properly apply to Ireland, great part of which was colonised from this kingdom; and the descendants of the settlers (the only civilised and cultivated inhabitants)

have consequently been, ever since, looked upon as English; the native Irish being, to this day, a very different people. Every one has heard of the English pale."

Ritson, however, probably after this passage was written (1783), may have read the complaint, that the Anglo-Irish settlers degenerated and became mere Irish; in fact, that they were "more Irish than the Irish themselves;" for, in 1789, he appears to have visited Dublin," chiefly," to use his own words, "with a view to pick up songs, either single or collected, the native production of the country; but I met," he adds, " with little or nothing except disappointment. And yet I have good reason to think that some such collections must either exist or have existed."

That Irish songs may be found in abundance, there can be no doubt, although Ritson's inquiries after them were unsuccessful; but the question which he has raised is; In what particulars they differ from English songs, being composed in the same language, and by English settlers or their descendants? That there is, however, a distinct feeling and character,that there is a certain humour, a quaint manner of expression, an exquisite simplicity, and

that there are other peculiarities, which leave no difficulty in discriminating between even the English imitation and the genuine lyric of Ireland, I think, will readily be conceded after the perusal of this volume. These traits of Anglo-Irish song may be accounted for in various ways; among others, as copies after, or translations from, the national language.

Spenser," the prince of poets," distinctly replies to the inquiry, Whether the Irish bards "have any art in their compositions, or be they any thing witty or well-savoured as poems should be?"

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Yea, truly, I have caused divers of them to be translated unto me, that I might understand them; and surely they savoured of sweet wit and good invention, but skilled not of the goodly ornaments of poetry; yet were they sprinkled with some pretty flowers of their natural device, which gave good grace and comeliness unto them."

My intention was to submit to the English reader a series of songs, which would have told the history of Ireland from the battle of the Boyne to the present time, in a novel, impartial, and, according to my view, interesting and instructive form. From the genuine

contemporary evidences of popular feeling, I am satisfied that many curious and some important deductions might have been derived. For what has been said of French songs, applies perfectly to those of Ireland. "The Frenchman" (and so does the Irishman) “sings his conquests, his prosperity, his defeats, even his miseries and misfortunes. Conquering or conquered, in plenty or want, happy or unhappy, sorrowful or gay, he always sings; and one would say that the song is his natural expression. In fine, in all situations in which we would speak of the French" (or the Irish),

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we might always ask, as the late King of Sardinia did, 'Well! how goes the little song?""

The chronological series which I had originally proposed (notwithstanding the utmost compression), would have extended to three or four volumes; a work which, for a mere collection of Irish songs, alarmed my publisher. In compliance, therefore, with his wishes, rather than in accordance with my own opinion as to the interest likely to attach to the undertaking, I now submit to the public a selection, not of the historical, but of the popular songs of Ireland.

Several of these songs, although they have