"Eileen Oge"

No personal notes.

According to a Session contributor, this goes nicely with "The Rights of Man"

More advice;

A low B (on the G string of the fiddle) makes a nice "lead-in" note to this tune - whistle players will have to make do with a D note instead.

The best way to ornament this tune is rhythmically. Try playing a round of this in a staccato fashion, with short, clipped notes. Alternatively, try turning the four E's at the start of the second part into two long notes.

I have heard this Hornpipe played last in set that started with the Galway Hornpipe into Rights of Man then finishing with Eileen Og.

Petravore does not exist as a place name in Ireland - it probably was originally the place called "Pedra Voher", literally "Peter of the road".

A minor note: Percy French [1854-1920], who wrote the lyrics, studied Engineering at Trinity College. Famous for a few well-known songs; "Abdulla Bulbul Ameer", "Phil The Fluter's Ball", "Come Back Paddy Reilly", "The Mountains o'Mourne" (associated in many people's minds with French, was apparently set to music by Collisson, a pianist with whom French regularly performed). Collisson also wrote the music for four plays written by French and many other songs including "Are Ye Right There Michael?".

Lyrics

EILEEN OGE

Eileen Oge, and that the darlin's name is
Through the barony her features they were famous
If we loved her, who is there to blame us
For wasn't she the pride of Petravore?
But her beauty made us all so shy
Not a man could look her in the eye
Boys, O boys, sure that's reason why
We're in mourning for the pride of Petravore

CHORUS
Eileen Og, me heart is growing grey
Ever since the day, you wandered far away
Eileen Og, there's good fish in the sea
But there's none of them like the pride of Petravore

Friday at the fair of Ballintubber
Eileen met McGrath the cattle jobber
I'd like to set me mark upon the robber
For he stole away the Pride of Petravore
He never seemed to see the girl at all
Even when she ogled him underneath her shawl
Looking big and masterful when she was looking small
Most provoking for the Pride of Petravore

Chorus

So it went as it was in the beginning
Eileen Og was bent upon the winning
Big McGrath contentedly was grinning
Being courted by the Pride of Petravore
Says he, 'I know a girl who'd knock you into fits
At that Eileen nearly lost her wits
The upshot of the ruction was that now the robber sits
With his arm around the Pride of Petravore

Chorus

Boys, O boys, with fate 'tis hard to grapple
Of my eye 'tis Eileen was the apple
And now to see her walkin' to the chapel
Wid the hardest featured man in Petravore
And now boys, this is all I have to say
When you do your courting make no display
If you want them running after you just walk the other way
For they're mostly like the Pride of Petravore

Chorus