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Carmin Fair

[ Roud - ; trad.]

Sean Doyle sang Carmin Fair in 2004 on his Compass album The Light and the Half-Light. He noted:

This is another Ulster song I came across in Traditional Songs of the North of Ireland by Derek Bell and Liam Ó Conchubhair [1999]. Carmin was a local name for Carrickmore in Co. Tyrone and refers to Tearmon Mag Uirc (the sanctuary of MacGurk).

Lyrics

Sean Doyle sings Carmin Fair

One very pleasant summer’s morning
When everything was bright and gay,
The birds sang out their notes so charming
And I myself was as glad as they.
I dressed myself in me Sunday suit,
Washed me face and combed me hair,
Greased me brogues and sallied forth
For the spend the day at Carmin fair.

When I arrived at the town of Carmin
Crowds of people thronged the street.
Some were dressed in silk and satin,
Some wore big brogues upon their feet.
Some had hankies round their heads,
With their feet and legs completely bare.
Such a comical sight as you ever did see
As I saw that day at Carmin fair.

As I was passing them by in masses
Examining them as I went along,
Looking at the fancy dresses
I spied a maid among the throng.
Her smile was sweet, her figure neat,
And grand was the dress that she did wear.
I thought there was no one there that day
To compare with her at Carmin fair.

I invited her in to have a trait
And she agreed without a frown,
So off we went with one consent
To an alehouse up in Carmin town.
I called for a pint of good strong sherry
And down in the snug we went and sat.
Us two became both light and merry
And I counted meself a lucky brat.

When in my arms I held her folded
And kissing her lips as I thought no sin,
And all of a sudden the door bursts open
And a big rough man comes thundering in.
He says, “You damned infernal ruffian,
How dare you lay your hands on me wife?”
He began to give me such a beating,
I feared to God he would take me life.

“O husband dear, beat him well,” says she,
“He kissed me squeezed me and pulled me hair.”
1 was the lad paid well for the day,
I spent with his wife at Carmin fair.
Now all lads who want a bride
Of unknown females now beware,
Mind the disgrace that happened to me
In that damned deceitful Carmin fair.