Songs of Wexford
A regular feature on traditional songs of County Wexford. This week: The Templetown Goose
THIS song is one of many written by Jack McCutcheon (1925 – 1991), the ‘Bard of Ballyowen’. Jack was a prolific writer and recorder of wide-ranging events in the area of Bannow, Ballymitty, Clongeen and much farther afield. His songs are featured in ‘Where the Silvery Corach Flows’ which was published by Clongeen GAA Club in 1992.
‘The Templetown Goose’ is considered by many to be one of Jack’s best songs and was his entry in the ballad-writing competition at Éigse PJ McCall in Rathangan in 1983 where it was a winner. To quote the man himself : ‘This song is pure imagination having no bearing whatsoever on any person or happenings in the district’. This song is associated with the singer of many ‘fowl songs’, John O’ Byrne, and I’m indebted to John for the information provided here.
John performed this song in the National Library of Ireland as part of the Bird Song Project in May 2015 and a video of his performance is featured on the Songs of Wexford Facebook page. The Templetown Goose Lyrics: Jack McCutcheon
Air: Nell Flaherty’s Drake In sweet Ballylannon on the road to Duncannon
With a small bit of farming I led a quiet life,
I ploughed a few acres and sowed a few taters
And the fowl and the dairy left in charge of the wife.
“Well”, the wife said “Now Johnny, you know I’m your honey” And ambitions for money or fame I’ve no use,
But a small bit we’ll squander to amuse the ould gander If you go out and buy me a beautiful goose.
It was early one morning at the break of the dawning, I pumped up the ould tyres and I westwards set sail. In the Hook I soon landed where my wish it was granted, When I spied a fine goose and she chewing barley meal. Said I to her owner “If you will disown her,
A price I will quote that you cannot refuse”.
With a small bit of arguing, we struck up a bargain
And I started for home with my Templetown Goose.
Chorus:
Ah, but she was a darling, both handsome and charming, A great one to ramble if e’er she got loose,
Away she would wander but her steps I’ll soon hinder, When I give the grey gander to my Templetown goose.
But my chickens I’d counted before I was mounted,
For to leave her surroundings this bird hadn’t planned. Her wings she did flutter and when I overtook her,
She was washing her toenails on Dollar Bay strand.
I did some hard slogging, chasing her through Kiloggan, She led me thro’ Lewistown and Haytown and Ralph, Next she started skin diving off the rocks of Carnivan, After ten hours I caught her and tied her up safe.
We approached Balliniry and again she got fiery,
Once more she escaped and she flew to Dunmain,
We traversed Mullinderry to the Ballyhack ferry,
It was in Passage East she was captured again.
Now she had me demented and sorely tormented,
She wore out my tyres and my socks and my shoes,
Exhausted and shaken the wife I did waken,
When past midnight I brought home my Templetown goose. (Sing Chorus)
Now this bird she was speedy and grasping and greedy,
But in the grey gander she soon met her match.
When they went into action soon to our satisfaction
A fine brood of goslings in a few weeks did hatch.
There were rare ones and fair ones, quare ones and square ones, Like their mother before them they give dogs abuse,
But now she is spancelled her freedom is cancelled
And the speed is gone off of the Templetown goose.
Ah, but she was a darling both handsome and charming A great one to ramble if e’er she got loose,
Away she would wander but I’ll soon reprimand her, When I give the grey gander to the Templetown goose Aileen Lambert is a traditional singer from Ballindaggin. She works with various communities on a range of song collecting, composing and performing projects and delivers workshops in Primary Schools as part of the Heritage-in-Schools Scheme. If you have further information on a subject or song featuring in this column, or a song or verse/recitation you’d like to share with Aileen, please contact her on aileenlambert@gmail.com or 087 7552593.