‘Mandy Gallagher of Tullagh, Carrigart, in the county of Donegal, had a fine song in praise of the May morning dew that the witches put to such evil purpose for their own gains. Mandy had a great way with a song and, though many of our younger singers attempt to emulate his clarity of tone and sincerity of expression, they sound like very faint echoes of the mighty troubadour himself’ (Paddy Tunney, The Stone Fiddle). 

Today The May Morning Dew can be heard all over Ireland. Sometimes, a fifth verse is sung, one that mentions ‘cruel landlords’. Although Da sometimes sang it, he always thought it was at war with overall mood of the song. Recently, my brother Cathal wrote the evocative final verse heard here, one that is more in tune with the nostalgic feelings in the earlier verses:

Winter is coming, my time’s almost done.

Fond summer pleasures in memory live on.

To those coming after, may the sun shine on you,

May you find joy and treasure, in the May morning dew. 

*The notes for songs 28-42, if not covered by earlier entries, have been compiled by John Tunney.