The Creggan White Hare
Source: The Stone Fiddle by Paddy Tunney
Location: New Edition, page 100 / 101
In the lowlands of Creggan there lies a white hare;
She’as as swift as a swallow that flies through the air.
You may travel this country but there’s none can compare
With the pride of low Creggan, the bonnie white hare.
One fine Sunday morning as you may suppose,
As the red golden sun o’er the green fields arose,
Barney Conway came round and so loud did declare,
He says: “I’ll put an end till your Creggan White Hare.”
He searched through the lowlands and down through the glens,
And among the green rushes where the white hare had dens
‘Till at last coming home on a bog-bank so bare,
From behind a white thistle out jumps the white hare.
He gave a great gulder and his dogs slipped too,
Across the green meadows a beautiful view,
But the dogs soon came back which made poor Barney sigh,
For he knew that the white hare had bid him goodbye.
We have some jolly sportsmen down here from Pomeroy,
Cookstown, Dungannon and also the Moy.
With pedigree greyhounds they came from afar,
And they travelled to Creggan in a fine motorcar.
‘Twas down through the lowlands these huntsmen did go
To search for the white hare they tried high and low.
‘Till at last Barney Conway, as he came on its lair,
Shouted out to the sportsmen: “Here lies the white hare!”
They called in their greyhounds from off the green lea,
And Barney and the huntsmen they jumped high with glee.
‘Twas on the turf bank they all gathered around,
Seven men and nine dogs did the white hare surround.
No wonder the poor puss did tremble with fear,
As she stood on her toes she would raise her big ear.
But she ris on her toes and with one gallant spring
Cleared over the greyhounds and broke through the ring.
The chase it went on, ‘twas a beautiful view,
As swift as the wind o’er the green valleys flew.
But these pedigree greyhounds they didn’t go far.
They came back and went home in their fine motorcar.
So, now to conclude and to finish my rhyme,
I hope you’ll excuse me for wasting your time.
If there’s any amongst you in Carrickmore Fair,
Drink a jolly good health to the Creggan White Horse.