This songbook by Aileen Lambert is available to order from www.aileenlambert.com
Bunclody on Fair Day
Lyrics: James Brooks
Air: Traditional
Draw near me youthful Irishmen if you can spare the time,
I pray you’ll pay attention now and listen to my rhyme,
At many a fair, I’ve been there, since I was only three,
In the heart of county Wexford in a place called Bunclody.
’Twas there I spent some happy days when I was in my teens,
I rambled round the countryside with the boys and fair colleens,
We went to threshings and to wakes both near and far away,
But most of all I do recall Bunclody on Fair Day.
Oft’ times on a winter’s morn round the hour of six o’clock,
We would set out for Bunclody to try and sell some stock,
Although great hardships we endured, yet we were always gay,
For we always did look forward to Bunclody on Fair Day.
The streets were full by eight o’clock, they came from out of town,
From Kilbranish, Kilrush, Kilmyshall, and far off Carnew Town,
They came from around the County, and overnight they’d stay,
For to make the deal they’d never fail in Bunclody on Fair Day.
We’d have our business done before twelve o’ clock came round,
And when we had our grub got we’d roam around the town,
We’d meet our friends and neighbours and sport with the ladies gay,
Then we’d make a date for the evening late, in Bunclody on Fair Day.
The three-card-trick man did his act down on the market square,
And though it was against the law he was always there,
There were stalls there for rags and bags and tents for making tae,
And plenty of fights and arguments in Bunclody on Fair Day.
And now these days are past and gone and the Fair Days are no more,
’Cos I am old and grey now and pains and aches are sore,
But I often think of those grand ol’ times by nighttime and by day,
But most of all I do recall Bunclody on Fair Day.
Thanks to Suzi Brooks White for supplying me with these lyrics which are taken from a copy book belonging to James Brooks, her grandfather. The year noted beside the title is 1952 and at the bottom of the page he has written; “When I was a young boy I would be allowed down to the Fairs and I always got a job with the farmers who had sheep in pens.”
Dubliner Martin McCann who moved from Dublin to Bunclody in 1963 adapted this song and included it in a songbook entitled Ballads and Verses of Co. Wexford by Martin McCann.
On comparing the two versions it is notable that the original by James Brooks has local placenames which would more accurately describe the people who attended the fair:
“From Kilbranish, Kilrush, Kilmyshall, and far off Carnew Town” while later Martin McCann changed it to “From Carlow, Tullow, Baltinglas, and far off Bagnelstown”.
