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The Groves of Donaghmore

[ Roud - ; trad.]

Nuala Kennedy sang The Groves of Donaghmore on her 2007 album The New Shoes.

This 2016 video from a live performance in Sweden shows Christy O’Leary singing The Groves of Donaghmore, accompanied by Bert and Eva Deivert and Karen Tweed:

Dàibhidh Stiùbhard The Groves of Donaghmore in 2019 on Malinky’s 20^th anniversary album Handsel. They noted:

Interested in finding songs local to County Tyrone, Dàibhidh approached John Tunney, the son of esteemed traditional singer Paddy Tunney, and a singer himself. Amongst the many he gave was The Groves of Donaghmore. Donaghmore is located not too far from Dàibhidh’s home in Tullywiggan. The song is a beautiful example of lyrical writing in the traditional style.

Lyrics

Nuala Kennedy sings The Groves of Donaghmore

My love he is a nice young man, he’s handsome, tall and thin,
He’s manly in proportion, there’s none to equal him.
With his gunbelt and his bayonet and his broadsword by his side
Oh if I could find my Micheál Bán, I’d surely be his bride.

“What regiment is your true love in?” the sentry he did say,
“Or is he in some barracks? Come tell to me I pray.”
“He listed in the eighty-eight, he being a fine young man,
He commands one hundred and forty-four in the front line where he stands.”

My name it is young Micheál Bán, I’m not afraid to tell,
I come from the county of Tyrone, a place you all know well.
I’m sailing from Philadelphia three thousand miles or more,
And I’m going home, no more to roam from the Groves of Donaghmore.

This couple they got married and they’re living at their ease,
They go out when they’re ready and they come in when they please.
Such a happy couple you have never seen before
As young Micheál Bán and his Mary-Ann from the Groves of Donaghmore.

Dàibhidh Stiùbhard sings The Groves of Donaghmore

Her love he is a nice young man, he’s handsome, tall and thin,
He’s manly in proportion, there’s none to equal him.
Wi a gunbelt and a bayonet and a broadsword by his side
If she could find her Mícheál Bán, she would surely be his bride.

“What regiment is your true love in?” the sentry he did say,
“Or is he in some barracks? Come tell to me I pray.”
“He listed in the eighty-eight, he bein a fine young man, and
He commands a hundred and forty-four in the front line where he stands.”

I will go amidst the roses my mind for to divert,
To banish grief and sorrow all from my broken heart.
My true love’s absence I will mourn for seven years or more,
My love won’t wane, I’ll still remain by the Groves of Donaghmore.

My name it is young Micheál Bán, I’m not afraid to tell,
From the county of Tyrone, a place you all know well.
I’m sailing from Amerikay three thousand miles or more
And I’m goin home, no more to roam from the Groves of Donaghmore.

This couple they got married, they’re living at their ease,
They go out when they’re ready and they come in when they please.
Oh such a couple deep in love you’ve never seen before
As young Mary-Ann and Mícheál Bán from the Groves of Donaghmore.

Acknowledgements

Thank you very much to Steve Byrne for Malinky’s verses.