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Master McGrath

[ Roud 3041 ; Henry H161c ; Ballad Index Hodg215 ; DT MASMCGR ; Mudcat 36495 , 75886 ; Henry McCusker, ca. 1880]

Gale Huntington, Lani Herrmann, John Moulden (eds.): Sam Henry’s Songs of the People Colm O Lochlainn: Irish Street Ballads.

Dominic Behan sang Master McGrath in 1959 on his Topic album of Irish street ballads, Down by the Liffeyside. This track was included in 1966 on Folk Songs: An Anthology (Topic Sampler No 2). He also sang it in the 2 November 1963 issue of the ABC Television programme Hullabaloo, which was released on DVD in 2020. Dominic Behan’s album’s liner notes said, with an additional comment from the album’s download release in 2000:

Dominic writes: “This ballad sings the praises of Lord Lurgan’s champion greyhound when he won the Waterloo Cup in 1869. In fact, he had already won it in 1868 and was to win it again in 1871. Hurrah for Master McGrath.”

Talking racehorses are familiar enough in British folklore and folksong. Here is a talking greyhound, and a nationalistic one, at that.

The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem sang Master McGrath live at Carnegie Hall, New York, on 18 March 1967. This concert’s recording was released in the same year on their Columbia album In Concert. They noted:

Master McGrath was a greyhound who became an Irish national hero by beating an English bitch named “White Rose” and carrying back the coveted Waterloo Cup to Ireland three times. There’s a big stone monument to him in the County Waterford. It’s a hundred years since he chased the hare and yet his picture is still proudly displayed in half the pubs and barbershops of Ireland. The English sporting gentleman of the time couldn’t believe there was anything on four feet that could beat White Rose. The old broadside elaborates:

One of the gentlemen standing around
Said we don’t give a damn for your Irish greyhound
And another he laughed with a scornful “Ha! Ha!
We’ll soon humble the pride of your Master McGrath.”

Then McGrath he looked up and he wagged his old tail
Informing his lordship, “I know what you mean.
Don’t fear noble Brownlow, don’t fear them a gradh,
I’ll tarnish their laurels,” says Master McGrath.

Lyrics

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem sing Master McGrath

Eighteen sixty-nine being the date of the year,
All the Waterloo sportsmen they all did appear
To win the great prize and to bear it awa’
Never counting on Ireland and Master McGrath.

And when they arrived there in big London town,
All the great English sportsmen they all gathered round,
One of the gentlemen gave a “Ha! Ha!
Is that the great dog you call Master McGrath?”

Lord Lurgan stepped forward and he said: “Gentlemen,
If there’s any among you has money to spend,
For your great English greyhound I don’t care a straw:
Five thousand to one upon Master McGrath.”

White Rose stood uncovered, the great English pride,
For trainer and owner were both by her side.
They led her away and the crowd cried “Hurrah!”
For the pride of all England and Master McGrath.

As Rose and the Master they both ran along,
“I wonder,” says Rose, “what brought you from your home?
You should have stayed there in your Irish domain
Not come to get laurels on Albion’s plain.”

“I know,” says McGrath, “we have wild heather bogs,
But you’ll find in old Ireland we have good men and dogs.
Lead on, bold Britannia; give none of your jaw.
Snuff that up your nostrils,” says Master McGrath.

The hare she led on, what a beautiful view,
And swift as the wind o’er the green field she flew.
He jumped on her back and he held up his paw,
“Three cheers for auld Ireland!” says Master McGrath.

I’ve known many greyhounds that fill me with pride,
In the days that are gone and it can’t be denied.
But the greatest and the bravest that the world ever saw
Was our champion of champions, brave Master McGrath.

Noel Murphy sings Master McGrath

Eighteen sixty-nine being the date of the year,
Those Waterloo sportsmen and more did appear
To win the great prizes and bear them awa’
Never counting on Ireland and Master McGrath.

On the twelfth of December, that year of renown,
McGrath and his keepers they left Lurgan town.
A gale in the channel it soon drove them o’er.
On the thirteenth, they landed on England’s fair shore.

And when they arrived there in big London town,
Those great English sportsmen all gathered around,
And some of them sneered with a scornful haw-haw,
Saying: “Is that the great dog you call Master McGrath?”

And one of these gents from his nose looking down,
Said: “We don’t give a curse for your Irish greyhound.”
And another one sneered with a scornful haw-haw,
Saying: “We’ll humble the pride of your Master McGrath”

Lord Lurgan stepped forward and said: “Gentlemen,
If there’s any amongst you with money to spend,
For your great English nobles we don’t give a straw.
Here’s five thousand to one upon Master McGrath.”

Well, McGrath he looked up and he wagged his old tail
Informing his lordship: “I know what you mean.
Don’t fear them, dear Lurgan; don’t heed them at all.
I’ll soon cripple their laughter,” says Master McGrath.

There stood Rose of England, the Saxon’s great pride.
The Master quite easy stood close by her side.
They led them away and the crowd cried “Hurrah
For the pride of all England and Master McGrath!”

As Rose and the Master they both ran along,
“I wonder,” said Rose, “what brought you from your home?
You should have stayed home in your Irish domain
And not come hunting laurels on Albion’s plain.”

“Now I know,” says McGrath, “we have wild heather bogs,
But old Ireland is famous for good men and dogs.
Lead on, bold Britannia; give none of your jaw.
Stuff that up your nostrils,” says Master McGrath.

The hare she ran on with a wonderful view
And swift as a rocket they crossed Waterloo.
Rose gave the first turning according to law,
But the second was given by Master McGrath.

McGrath paced the hare just as fast as the wind.
He was sometimes before it and sometimes behind;
Then he jumped on its back and he held up his paw.
“Long live auld Ireland!” says Master McGrath.