This may well form part of the song's context. Work there attracted Irish immigrants, and the local churchyard apparently holds their graves, some of which have black marble memorial stones. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there was a successful stone quarry close to Ballygrant, in a place called Kilmeny. There is about 70 miles of Irish sea between the two places. What I can tell you is that Carrickfergus is in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and that Ballygrant (the Ballygran of the first verse) is on the island of Islay, in Scotland's Inner Hebrides. This mudcat thread is well worth reading. But beyond that, not much is known for certain. I wish I could find me a handy boatman To ferry me over to my love and die. But the sea is wide and I can't swim over And neither have I wings to fly. It may have been based on an earlier gaelic language song called "Do bhí bean uasal" ("There Was a Noblewoman"), and there is an obvious similarity to " The Water is Wide". 'Carrickfergus' lyrics Joan Baez Lyrics 'Carrickfergus' I wished I had you in Carrickfergus, Only for nights in Ballygrand, I would swim over the deepest ocean, The deepest ocean to be by your side. The song's history before O'Toole brought it to light is much more enigmatic. The Youtube version on this page is by Joan Baez, who sings the song beautifully. Carrickfergus subsequently grew in popularity and has been recorded by luninaries including The Dubliners and Van Morrison. the graver English, lyric Irish tongue, must let this rich earth so. Behan added what is now he middle verse, and recorded the song. implying that he regards his roots in Carrickfergus as something of a mistake. But the sea is wide and I can not swim over Nor have I the wings to fly I wish I had a handsome boatman, To ferry me over, my love and i. I would swim over the deepest ocean For my love to be with me. ![]() ![]() In the 1960s, the Irish actor, Peter O'Toole, introduced it to Dominic Behan (it was O'Toole's favourite song, apparently). 'Carrickfergus' lyrics Charlotte Church Lyrics 'Carrickfergus' I wish I was in carrickfergus Where the castle looks out to sea. The song's recent history is an interesting one. There are obviously themes of exile, loss and love, and these, combined with the pathos of the tune, are what get to me. If you look closely at the words, you might argue that it seems to be composed of fragments of other songs, but to me that doesn't matter. Finish up with a nice stroll along Carrickfergus’ beautiful marina before driving along the stunning Causeway Coastal route.Carrickfergus - Chords, Lyrics and Origins OriginsĬarrickfergus is, in my humble opinion anyway, one of the most beautiful ballads I've heard. Next visit Carrickfergus Museum where you can learn more about the town and see medieval artefacts, including the town’s ceremonial sword. Inside you can enjoy great views over Belfast Lough, you can see canons that were once used to protect the castle from attack and there is a fun historic room where children can dress up as the inhabitants of the castle. Once you have seen the town walls check out Carrickfergus Castle, one of the best preserved Anglo-Norman castles in Ireland. The North Gate, north-east bastion, north bastion, part of the north-west bastion and 87m of the north wall are all clearly visible. Nearly half of the stone walls that once surrounded the town can be seen above ground today. 6ha in the 13th century to c.11ha in the 17th century. Originally there was only one main gate into the town with two sea gates, but by Chichester's time there were four gated entrances known as the North Gate, the Water Gate, the Irish Gate and the Quay Gate. Take You Home Again, Kathleen Brian asked if anyone knew Carrickfergus. He strengthened the town's defences and built a circuit of high stone walls between 16. into I'll take you home again, Kathleen and all sang the plaintive lyrics. ![]() However this wall was never finished and the stone sea walls that were added along the shoreline were considered to be a better defence than the earthen bank and ditch the rest of the town had.Īfter the defeat of the Irish at the end of the Nine Years War, the land around Carrickfergus was granted to Arthur Chichester, the 1st Barron Chichester. ![]() In 1574 a bank of sods was built up, with four mounts at the corners. An attempt to improve the walls of the town was made in the Tudor period.
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