Listen to this song!
High Germany
On March 14, 1891
Belfast Celtic, arguably the greatest club in Irish football, was founded in the Falls Road area of Belfast. The club was named after Glasgow Celtic.
Home
The Band
» recordings
» photos
» videos
» news
» tour dates
» dún aengus
» past members
» influences
The Ballad Archive
The Forum
Contact Us
Account Login
CD QUIZ:
Answer these questions for a chance to win the King Laoghaire CD Courtin' the Ginger Lady.
1. What popular radio show were presented by Kieran Hanrahan?
Céilí House
An Fear Ceoil
The Late Session
2. What's the name of fiddler Maurice Lennons father?
John Lennon
Charlie Lennon
Ben Lennon
Name:
E-mail:
Bold Thady Quill
(Trad)
Ye maids of Dunhallow who're anxious for courting
A word of advice I will give unto ye
Proceed to Banteer to the athletic sporting
And hand in your names to the club committee
And never commence any skits on your programme
Till the carriage you see flying over the hill
Right down through the valleys and glens of Kilcorney
With our own darling sportsman the bold Thady Quill

For ramblin', for rovin', for football' or courtin'
For drinkin' black porter as fast as you'd fill
In all your days rovin' you'll find none so jovial
As our Muskerry sportsman, the bold Thady Quill

At the great hurling match between Cork and Tipperary
'Twas played in the park on the banks of the Lee
Our own darling lads were afraid of being beaten
So they sent for bold Thady to Ballinagree
He hurled the ball right and left in their faces
And showed the Tipperary men action and skill
If they touched on his lines he would certainly brain them
And the papers were full of the praise of Thade Quill

For ramblin', for rovin', for football' or courtin'
For drinkin' black porter as fast as you'd fill
In all your days rovin' you'll find none so jovial
As our Muskerry sportsman, the bold Thady Quill

At the Cork Exhibition there was a fair lady
Whose fortune exceeded a million or more
But a bad constitution had ruined her completely
And medical treatment had failed o'er and o'er
Our Mother, says she, sure I know what will ease me
And cure this disease which will certainly kill
Give over your doctors and medical treatment
I'd rather one squeeze out of bold Thady Quill

For ramblin', for rovin', for football' or courtin'
For drinkin' black porter as fast as you'd fill
In all your days rovin' you'll find none so jovial
As our Muskerry sportsman, the bold Thady Quill

Thady was famous in many other places
At the athletic meeting held out in Cloghroe
He won the long jump without throwing off his braces
Going fifty-four feet every sweep he would throw
At the putting of the weight there was a Dublin man foremost
But Thady outreached and exceeded him still
And around the whole field rang the wild ringing chorus
Here's luck to our hero, the bold Thady Quill

For ramblin', for rovin', for football' or courtin'
For drinkin' black porter as fast as you'd fill
In all your days rovin' you'll find none so jovial
As our Muskerry sportsman, the bold Thady Quill

In the year ninety-one before Parnell was taken
Thade was outrageously breaking the peace
He got a light sentence for causing commotion
And six months' hard labour for batin' police
But in spite of coercion he's still agitating
Every drop of his life's blood he's willing to spill
To gain for old Ireland complete liberation
Till then there's no rest for me, says bold Thady Quill

For ramblin', for rovin', for football' or courtin'
For drinkin' black porter as fast as you'd fill
In all your days rovin' you'll find none so jovial
As our Muskerry sportsman, the bold Thady Quill
« Back
NEWEST ADDITIONS
to the Ballad Archive:
1. The Galway Girl
2. Nancy Spain
3. Whiskey In The Jar
4. Lads Among The Heather
5. Mary From Dungloe
MOST POPULAR BALLADS
in March:
1. Ireland's Call
2. The Soldier's Song
3. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
4. The Black Velvet Band
5. All For Me Grog
MOST POPULAR BALLADS
of all time:
1. Ireland's Call
2. The Soldier's Song
3. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
4. After The Ball Is Over
5. The Black Velvet Band