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Magherafelt May Fair
The poem 'Magherafelt Hiring Fair' (as referenced in the Appletree Press title Hiring Fairs and Market Places, by May Blair.Once you have read the poem, you can return to the Irelandseye extract from 'Hiring Fairs and Market Places', which quotes this poem:
The words in bold were spoken.
MAGHERAFELT MAY FAIR
from James Mulholland
I am a bouncing fair young girl, my age is scarce sixteen
And when I’m dressed all in my best I look like any queen;
Young maidens fair from far and near that want till sell your ware,
On the twelfth of May I’ll make my way to the Magherafelt May Fair.
My mother cautioned me going out, ‘Do not stay late in town,
For if you do, your father and I, on you we both will frown.
Be sure to shun bad company and of all young men beware
They nice may be but don’t make free in the Magherafelt May Fair.’
‘Mother dear, oh do not fret, and set your mind at rest,
For I must leave this house some day as the white swan leaves the nest.’
I dressed myself in my blue gown and combed my bonny brown hair.
There’ll be many a boy from Toome to Moy at the Magherafelt May Fair.
I bade them all Good Morning and hoisted then my sail,
Hoped providence would guide me with a sweet and pleasant gale
And though to my misfortune on my arrival there
There were females ten for each young man in the Magherafelt May Fair.
Like any sprite or air searchlight I wandered up and down.
I was puffed with pride and vanity – my feet scarce touched the ground,
And as I walked the young men talked and at me they did stare,
Though I was nice, none asked my price in the Magherafelt May Fair.
I stayed there till the evening still trying to make my sale,
I hoped for the best – believed the worst and my courage near did fail.
Then night came on, all hopes were gone. I may take my sale elsewhere,
At a dance or wake my chance I’ll take and leave that hiring fair.
Return to the County Londonderry extract from the Appletree Press title Hiring Fairs and Market Places, by May Blair.
