Blackbird of Mullaghmore, The

DESCRIPTION: For money the singer will "supply you with a good friend" and a glass. The "loyal blackbird" of Mullaghmore has been driven away to some fine still. "Her offspring are well proven in America, France and Spain" She will return "but not to the same place"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1952 (Tunney-StoneFiddle)
KEYWORDS: drink nonballad emigration bird
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Tunney-StoneFiddle, pp. 123-124, "The Blackbird of Mullaghmore" (1 text, 1 tune)
OBoyle-TheIrishSongTradition 4, "Blackbird of Mullaghmore" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #3474
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Loyal Blackbird
NOTES [78 words]: Tunney-StoneFiddle: "If poteen was so potent surely it inspired the poets. Isn't 'The Loyal Blackbird' or 'The Blackbird of Mullaghmore' one of the many songs in praise of stills and poteen-making?"
OBoyle-TheIrishSongTradition: .".. the Blackbird of the song is the hidden name for the hidden Still. Mullaghmore (The Big Height) is a townland on the slopes of the Mournes above Hilltown in County Down, where I first heard the song from Owen McAteer in July 1952." - BS
File: TSF124

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