Star of Slane, The

DESCRIPTION: The singer "was ruminating and meditating And contemplating" when he met a maid that would have captivated Paris, Caesar, and Alexander. Her beauty eclipses all others. "For me to woo her I am too poor, I'm deadly sure she won't be my wife"
AUTHOR: Day (c.1800-1866) (source: Sparling)
EARLIEST DATE: 1826 (a Drogheda chap-book, according to Sparling)
KEYWORDS: love beauty humorous nonballad
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (3 citations):
OLochlainn-MoreIrishStreetBallads 84, "The Star of Slane" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hayward-UlsterSongsAndBalladsOfTheTownAndCountry, pp. 107-108, "The Star of Slane" (1 text)
ADDITIONAL: H. Halliday Sparling, Irish Minstrelsy (London, 1888), pp. 366-368, 515, "The Star of Slane"
Roud #6530
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 2806 c.8(270), "The Star of Slane" ("You brilliant muses, who ne'er refuses"), unknown, n.d.; alsoHarding B 11(3648), "The Star of Slane"
NOTES [64 words]: This is another song that hides the lover's name: "Her name to mention may cause contention And it's my intention for to breed no strife." See also "Craiganee," "The Pride of Kilkee," "The Flower of Benbrada" and "Ar Eirinn Ni Neosfainn Ce hi (For Ireland I Will Not Tell Whom She Is)"; in "Drihaureen O Mo Chree (Little Brother of My Heart)" the singer's brother's name is hidden. - BS
File: OLcM084

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