Pat of Mullingar lyrics
The Irish RoversYou may talk and sing and boast about your Fenians and your clans,
And how the boys from County Cork beat up the Black and Tans.
For I know one little codger who came out without a scar.
His name was Paddy Mulligan, the man from Mullingar.
The Peelers chased him out of Connemara,
For beatin' up the valiant Dan O'Hara.
And when he came to Ballymoney, he stole the Parson's car,
And he sold it to the Bishop in the town of Castlebar.
Seven hundred Peelers couldn't catch him.
The Chieftain paid the army for to catch him.
And when he came to Dublin Town, he stole an armoured car
And he gave it to the IRA brigade in Mullingar.
Well the Peelers got their orders to suppress the man on sight.
So they sent for reinforcements through the county left and right.
Three thousand men surrounded him, they hunted near and far.
But he was with the IRA in Johnston's Motor Car.
The Peelers chased him out of Connemara,
For beatin' up the valiant Dan O'Hara.
And when he came to Ballymore, he stole the Parson's car,
And he sold it to the Bishop in the town of Castlegar.
Seven hundred Peelers couldn't match him.
The Chieftain paid the army for to catch him.
And when he came to Dublin Town, he stole an armoured car
And he gave it to the IRA brigade in Mullingar.
They came with tanks and armoured cars, they came with all their might.
Them Peelers never counted on old Paddy's dynamite.
On the fourteenth day of April, well he blew them to July.
And the name of Paddy Mulligan makes the girls of Ireland sigh!.
The Peelers chased him out of Connemara,
For beatin' up the valiant Dan O'Hara.
And when he came to Ballymore, he stole the Parson's car,
And he sold it to the Bishop in the town of Castlegar.
Seven hundred Peelers couldn't match him.
The Chieftain paid the army for to catch him.
And when he came to Dublin Town, he stole an armoured car
And he gave it to the IRA brigade in Mullingar.
Song Details
Music & Lyrics: Traditional music with words written by W Millar from The Irish Rovers. The song has also been recorded as "Pat From Mullingar".
Date: © Antrim Music Pub. Co. 3rd Sept. 1968
Brief: There are a variety of versions to this song. The version by the Irish Rovers is an Irish Rebel Song while the original version is a light-hearted story about the owner of an Irish Jaunting car praising the exceptional attributes of his horse (see below).
Earliest Date: before 1862. You can find all references to the song (Roud No 3067) at Broadside Ballads Online (from the Bodleian Libraries). Two of these references have been included below.
Categories: Irish Rebel Song, Irish Folk Song
Covers: Irish Rovers (featured), Derek Warfield and The Wolfe Tones
Album: The Unicorn (Jan 1, 1971).
Pat of Mullingar - Roud No 3067
(broadside, Bodleian 2806 b.11(121))They may talk of Flying Childers, and the speed of Harkaway,
Till the fancy it bewilders, as you list to what they say;
But for real bone and beauty, though you travel far and near,
The fastest mare you’ll find belongs to Pat of Mullingar.
She can trot along, jog along, drag a jaunting car,
No day’s too long, when sent along by Pat of Mullingar.
She was bred in Connemara, and brought up in Castlemaine,
She won cups at the Curragh, and a charger was in Spain
All countries and conveyances she has been buckled to;
I'll drive them to the Strawberry
She can trot along, jog along, drag a jaunting car,
No day’s too long, when sent along by Pat of Mullingar.
If a friend you wish to find, sir, I’ll go where'er you want;
I’ll drive you out o' your mind, sir, or a little way beyant;
Like an arrow through the air if you’ll step upon my car,
You’ll ride behind the little mare of Pat of Mullingar.
She can trot along, jog along, drag a jaunting car,
No day’s too long, when sent along with Pat of Mullingar.
To Dallymount or Kingstown, if the place you wish to see,
I’ll drive you to the Strawberry beds, it’s all the same to me;
To Donnybrook, whose ancient fair is famed for love and war,
Or, if you have time to spare, we’ll go to Mullingar
She can trot along, jog along, drag a jaunting car,
No day’s too long, when sent along by Pat of Mullingar.
When on the road we’re going, the other carmen try
Without the darlin’ knowing to pass her on the sly;
Her one ear points up to the sky, she tucks her haunches in,
Then shows the lads how she can fly as I sit still and grin.
She can trot along, jog along, drag a jaunting car,
No day’s too long, when sent along by Pat of Mullingar.
Then should yez want a car sirs, I hope you’ll not forget
Poor Pat of Mullingar, sirs, and his darlin’ little pet;
She’s as gentle as the dove, sirs, her speed you can’t deny,
And there’s no blind side about her, tho’ she only has one eye.
She can trot along, jog along, drag a jaunting car,
No day’s too long, when sent along by Pat of Mullingar.
Pat of Mullingar - Roud No 3067
Date: between 1858 and 1861 - (broadside, Harding B 15(234b))
I'm going to sing you a song, if you'll but list to me,
I don't intend to keep you long, and that you'll plainly see;
It's all about my little car, the neatest e'er was seen,
It's painted red and white, and on the door it's green.
She can jog along, trot along, drag an ould Irish car,
No day’s too long, when she is drove by Pat of Mullingar.
The French are coming here, I suppose that you all know,
They don't forget the flogging, that they got at Waterloo.
But if they come to Ireland, Let it be for peace of war,
I'll drive them to the Strawberry Beds says Pat of Mullingar
She can jog along, trot along, drag an ould Irish car,
No day’s too long, when she is drove by Pat of Mullingar.
You may talk of Flying Dutchman, or the speed of Hark Away!
Till your head it gets bewildered, when you hear what these boys say;
But for real bone and beauty, too, sure you might travel far,
But the swiftest mare you'll find belongs to Pat of Mullingar.
She can jog along, trot along, drag an ould Irish car,
No day’s too long, when she is drove by Pat of Mullingar.
She was born at Conamargh, and brought up at Castle Bay;
She won cups at the Curragh, and her charge it was in Spain,
All countries and and communions she has been buckled to;
She lost an ear at Limerick and an eye at Waterloo.
She can jog along, trot along, drag an ould Irish car,
No day’s too long, when she is drove by Pat of Mullingar.
Now should you want a car, sir, I'll drive you where'er you mind,
I'll drive you every where about, I'll drive you out of your mind.
Like an arrow through the air, if you step upon my car,
You'll fly behind the little mare, of Pat of Mullingar
She can jog along, trot along, drag an ould Irish car,
No day’s too long, when she is drove by Pat of Mullingar.
Back To Top Back to The IRISH ROVERS
