Al O'Donnell - The Granemore Hare

'The Granemore Hare' sung by Al O'Donnell, from the album 'Al O'Donnell 2' released in 1978.

This song is also known as "The Hills of Greenmore" or "The Hills of Granemore".

I just found out that in a Tommy Makem & Ryan's Fancy video, you can see Al O'Donnell perform this song with video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAaRa2xNuqw#t=5m27s

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Lyrics:

One fine winter's morning, my horn I did blow,
To the green fields of Keady to hunt I did go,
We gathered our dogs and circled around,
For none loved the sport better than the boys of Maydown,

And when we arrived they were all standing there,
We set of for the fields in search of the hare,
We didn't get far, 'till someone gave a cheer,
Over high hills and valleys the wee hare did steer,

When she got to the heather, she tried them to shun,
The dogs never missed her one inch that she run,
They were kept well packed going over the hill,
Oh, they had set themselves then this wee puss to kill,

It being quite early I stopped for a while,
'Twas little I thought they were going to meet Coyle,
For if I'd known that I'd have lain near the town,
And have tried to get rid of the dogs of Maydown,

As we drew o'er the hill, 'twas a beautiful sight,
There was dogs black and yellow, dogs black and white,
And she took the black bank, for to try them once more,
Oh, it was her last look on the hills of Granemore,

And as they drew near where the wee puss did lie,
She sprang up to her feet for to bid them goodbye,
But their music did cease, and her cry we did hear,
Saying, "bad luck to the ones brought you Maydown dogs here",

In the field of wheat stubble, the wee puss did lie,
And Rory and Chalmer, they did pass her by,
And there while we stood, at the top of the brae,
Oh, we heard the last words that the wee hare did say,

"No more o'er the green fields of Keady I'll run,
Or trip to fields to have sports and turn,
For last night as I lay there content in the glen,
Oh,'twas little my thoughts were of dogs and of men,

No more o'er the green fields of Keady I'll run,
And now that I'm dying, the sport is all done,
Nor hear the long horn Joe Toner does play,
Or go home to my bed by the clear light of day,

You may blame Owen MacMahan for bringing Coyle here,
For he's at at his old capers this many's the year,
On saturday, sunday, he never gives over,
With a pack of strange dogs 'round the hills of Granemore".

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I have transcribed the lyrics myself, as the ones I was able to find on the internet weren't the same as in the song. The accent plus the fact that English isn't my native tongue, makes it possible I've made a mistake. Please comment if I did.

All credit goes to Al O'Donnell. I only put the music and images together for promotion, so Youtube can enjoy this great artist.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• folk music
• al o'donnell
• ireland
• irish
• guitar
• Granemore hare
• Granemore
• folk revival
• singer
• Keady
• Maydown
• the hills of greenmore
• Greenmore
• Co. Armagh

[Stryder55]

Many many thanks for posting this gem that I heard and taped while I was in Fort-William, Highlands, where I lived for one year in 1986 (regularly taping the "Travelling Folk" BBC Scotland's program, by Archie Fisher). And I had not documented then who was the singer... I tried later on to find out about this track, to no avail. And here I am in 2010. Thanks a million, merci beaucoup, and kudos to YouTube. I hope the CD's will be available one day.

[wrongwayup]

@Stryder55 I'm glad I was able to help you find that one track you'd been looking for for a long time. I know exactly what that is like. :)

[bernardcolgan]

Thanks a million for this track, have been looking for this for a long time and it sounds as good as the first time i heard it, what a voice.

Is Al O D.still around. Is it a shame that we do not hear more Irish music on radio as we had in the mid 60s. when ballads were very popular.

[wrongwayup]

@bernardcolgan Glad you liked it. :) And yes, Al O'Donnell is still around. I believe he still plays some gigs here and there. And I got the photos from his Myspace page, so perhaps you can find more information there, but you'll have to google it. :)

[tazio2]

This is quite excellent, my favourite Al track.I am fortunate enough to have an original copy of the Al O Donnell 2  LP in very good condition

[wrongwayup]

@tazio2 Sorry for the late reply - but as for the original copy of his album; treasure it! :)

[TheDiarmaidable]

He fares well here ...

[TheDiarmaidable]

Top shelf for that man there.... as well as ive heard hur song.

[saoirseterri]

Is tha Al playing a guitar only ever remember Al with the trusty banjo

[Barrano1]

I live in granemore!

[TheMakemFolksinger]

Brillant, pure magic, cheer The Makem Folk Singer

[Isyourmancarrying]

@bernardcolgan Al toured the continent (or at least Germany) last autumn/winter with The Dubliners - very successful.

[boulie147]

I'm proud to b from Granemore.. Great job!

[armaghlore]

john mithcell also sings a great version likewise of the creggan white hare

[tazio2]

@wrongwayup his LP is now available on itunes