Celtic Lyrics Corner > Artists & Groups > Karan Casey > Songlines > The Creggan White Hare

The Creggan White Hare     Credits: Arranged by John Doyle, Karan Casey, Seamus Egan & Winifred Horan     Appears On: Songlines     Language: English

Lyrics:

In the lowlands of Creggan there lives a white hare
As swift as a swallow as she flies through the air
You may travel the country, but none could compare
With the pride of the Creggan, that bonnie white hare

One fine Sunday morning as you may suppose
A red, golden sun o'er the green mountain rose
Barney Conway came down and did loudly declare
"Today I'll put an end to that Creggan white hare"

So he searched through the lowlands and down through the glens
Among the green rushes where the white hare had dens
'Til at last coming over the bog-bank so bare
From behind a white thistle out jumped the white hare

Well, he gave a great yelp and his dog, she slipped, too
As swift as the wind o'er the green mountain flew
But the dogs soon came back, which made poor Barney sigh
For he knew that the white hair had bid him good-bye

We have some jolly sportsmen down from the Pomroy
Cookstown, Dungannon and also the Moy
With pedigree greyhounds, they came from afar
Came down to the Creggan in their fine motor car

'Twas down through the lowlands these huntsmen did go
To search for the white hare they tried high and low
'Til at last Barney Conway, as he came on its lair
Shouted out to the huntsmen, "Here lies the white hair"

So they called in their greyhounds from off the green lea
And Barney and the huntsmen, they jumped high with glee
And on the turf bank they all gathered around
Seven men and nine dogs did the poor hare surround

No wonder the poor puss did tremble with fear
She stood on her hind legs, she rose her big ear
She ris on her toes and with one gallant spring
Cleared over the greyhounds and broke through the ring

Oh the chase, it went on, it was a beautiful view
As swift as the wind o'er the green mountain flew
But the pedigree greyhounds, they didn't get far
They came back and went home in their fine motor car

And now to conclude and to finish my rhyme
I hope you'll excuse me for wasting your time
If there's any amongst you in Carrickmore Fair
Drink a jolly good health to the Creggan white hare