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The Scarteen Hunt

from Island Mist (2001) by Bob Bickerton

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about

The Ryan family of Scarteen, County Limerick, have been masters of the ‘Black and Tan’ hounds for over 300 years. They are great friends and it is an honour indeed to feature the master ‘himself’ on the album.

lyrics

It’s of a fine huntsman, young Thady by name,
He’s master of hounds at the famous Scarteen.
His black and tan hounds were the best you could see,
They were feared by the fox up to the Galties.

On a cold winter’s morning the earths they were stopped,
The field gathered round to take stirrup cup.
They rode past Knocklong to the Knocktoran Bog,
The finest of coverts that e’er held a fox.

The huntsman drew covert in hopes of a find,
The field were restless some distance behind,
Then came a holler, the fox he did run,
“Gone Away” shouted Thady, the hunt it was on.

Ride on, Thady, Ride on o’er the fields.
Kick on to Villain, Tom Tallo or Spring,
Your bold ‘Tally Ho’ will echo around,
With the cry of the black and tan hounds.

And it’s down Ballycahill and through by Kilfrush,
The hounds on the scent of the sly little brush,
Around Ballyhoulihan, down by Byrne’s Bog,
‘Twas a beautiful sight of the hounds and the fox.

And the fox he stood still with his ears in the air,
The hounds were closer, he trembled with fear.
Oh where could he go where hounds would not tread,
Then he thought of the Lady who lived by the Dead.

So he ran down to Cullen with hounds in pursuit,
He went through the farmyard and into the house.
The geese and the hens did make such a row,
That the Lady came out for to see who’s about.

Then Thady drew up with hounds and the field,
“Did you head the fox?” “We were close it seemed.”
Said the lady “Young Thady you are very bold,
To cause such commotion on a morning so cold.”

“If you wish you may cast your hounds all around,
But I doubt that the quarry you seek will be found.”
Now Thady was raging for hounds they were checked,
He blew ‘Going Home’ and the field they went back.

Said the Lady to Thady “Now won’t you have tea?”
Said Thady “My dear I’m bound to agree”,
And after a sup his rage did subside,
And he looked at the lady with different eyes.

So it was through the fox this couple were met,
Their courtship it blossomed and soon they were wed,
And who would you guess was there by the church,
But the little red fox the lady had spared.

credits

from Island Mist (2001), released January 1, 2001
Words and Music Bob Bickerton, Arranged Bob Bickerton. Guest musician: Thady Ryan – Hunting Horn

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about

Bob Bickerton Nelson, New Zealand

Bob Bickerton is based in Nelson, New Zealand and has had a long career as a music manager, sound engineer and performing artist.

His earlier albums specialised in traditional and self-penned Celtic music, but in more recent times he has collaborated with other artists as a kaiwhakatangitangi or practitioner of taonga pūoro, the traditional instruments of Māori.
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