The humorous song ‘Henry Pat’ makes reference to Mullinaskeagh and Mary Dunphy, who lived in house 5 on the sketch map. Henry Pat McAuley was from the townland of Ballure in Glendun. The song was written by Dan McGonnell, a butcher from the townland of Tully in Glenballyeamon. Spratt in the song was reportedly an inspector of labourers on the roads and known for being well dressed. Susannah was Henry Pat’s sister. The song was dictated from the memory of Neil Delargy some years ago. Click here to listen to Archie McKeegan singing this song. Note that Archie’s version of the song is not quite the same as the version printed below. When you have finished listening to the song, close the player window to return to this page.
Henry Pat
You marrying maids and sporting blades
Who dwell by hill and glen
You females all from Cushendall
Who are looking out for men:
Keep up your hearts and take advice,
Give up the country brat,
And look for moneyed, marrying men
Like my sporting Henry Pat
This sporting youth McAuley
Just 69 or so,
Had buried his first love
In ages long ago.
He sold his farm and stocks and crop
And bought a sealskin hat:
And where was the roving bachelor
As proud as Henry Pat?
Susannah spoke to Henry
And said, “now brother dear,
Good counsel to you I will give
It’s seldom I’m sincere
Look out for youth and beauty
With pigs and this and that,
And the Lord might send you bye and bye
A little Henry Pat.”
“Thank you my dear sister,
I have already tried that game:
But youth and beauty will not have
My polished up old frame.
I salute all courting ladies
By taking off my hat”.
But the hairless crown reveals the age
Of my sporting Henry Pat.
He bought an umbrella,
Its cost was four and six,
And up he goes to Mallinaskeagh
To mash about at Dick’s.
Folks thought he was some landlord,
Blind George said he was Spratt,
But Mary Dunphy knew the boy,
Her true love Henry Pat.
To be classed with some young sportsmen
Brave Henry bought a gun,
And made the country girls believe
He was General Judgement’s son.
But the watchful bobbies collared him,
No one knows for what,
They took him for a roving Boer
Disguised as Henry Pat.
He bought a box of jewellery
From a traveling German Jew,
The Prussian King heard of the Prince
Who dwelt above Murro.
So sailing round our Northern shores
On his grand new pleasure yacht,
He kept his ensign flying
In honour of Henry Pat.
Proud Henry with his watch and chain
Looked young as seventeen,
He’d decorate his hairless crown
Before he would be see,
With silver mounted walking stick
And his old hairy hat.
No wonder the girls were striving
For bachelor Henry Pat.
He looked at fair Glenariff
And said ‘I shan’t have you’
Then skipped across to proud Glendun
To have a better view.
Then down right, through Dunurgan came,
The people wandered what;
Was he the boy they heard about,
The sporting Henry Pat?
There was a dance in Knocknacarry,
And the youths did all attend;
They had a good night’s dancing,
And when just come to end,
A young maid came and asked me,
“Pray tell me who is that?”
I answered, “He’s an English Lord
And his name is Henry Pat.”
But Henry’s sporting, spending days
Were shortly bound to end.
An Angel whispered quietly
That his match the Lord would send.
He dreaded some ill-looking one,
Not the Ballyeamon cat
Who stretched her paw and caught her prey,
First prize, poor Henry Pat.
I hope the first will be a boy,
If the Lord will that allow,
I’d willingly act as sponsor
And take a solemn vow
To train him up in poetry,
I’m sure he’d be no flat
When his mother would be Dunphy
And his father Henry Pat.
You’ll see a proud old bachelor
Tottering on his staff,
Who would take no girl to be his wife,
Without a cow or calf.
Fair females all around the Glens,
Beware of boys like that:
Prefer to take for love’s own sake,
A youth like Henry Pat.
I think I will conclude
With the verses I have penned.
And I wish the peace and happiness
In Ballyeamon Glen.
Fair ladies grant me pardon,
If I’ve said this or that;
And I’ll rhyme no more till the christening
Of the first young Henry Pat.