Lanigan's Ball

Lanigan's Ball is a humorous traditional Irish folksong that describes what turns out to be quite the epic house party. Recorded as early as the 1860s, its complete origins are unknown. The rousing chorus and hilarious story makes for a great pub sing-along, as long as someone present can remember all the lyrics. A quick note that'll help in understanding: "Milia murther" is an anglicized version of an Irish phrase that means "a million murders," and is a sort of a curse. Also, a "colleen" is simply a young woman.

In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan
Battered away 'til he hadn't a pound
His father died and made him a man again
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground He gave a grand party to friends and relations
Who did not forget him when come to the will
If you'll but listen I'll make your eyes glisten
At rows and ructions at Lanigan's Ball.

Chorus:
Six long months I spent in Dublin
Six long months doing nothing at all
Six long months I spent in Dublin
Learning to dance for Lanigan's Ball
I stepped out, I stepped in again
I stepped out again, I stepped in again
I stepped out and I stepped in again
Learning to dance for Lanigan's Ball.

Myself to be sure got free invitations
For all the nice girls and boys I might ask
And just in a minute both friends and relations
Were dancing as merry as bees 'round a cask
There was lashing of punch and wine for the ladies
Potatoes and cakes, there was bacon and tea
There were Nolans, Dolans, O'Gradys
Courting the girls and dancing away.

Chorus

They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas
All round the room with a whirligig
But Julia and I soon banished their nonsense
And tipped them a twist of a real Irish jig
Oh how that girl got mad on me
And danced 'til you'd think the ceilings would fall
For I spent three weeks at Brook's Academy
Learning to dance for the Lanigan's Ball.

Chorus

The boys were as merry, the girls were all hearty
Dancing away in couples and groups
'Til an accident happened, young Terence McCarthy
He put his right foot through Miss Finerty's hoops
The creature she fainted and cried "Milia murther!"
Called for her brothers and gathered them all
Carmody swore that he'd go no further
'Til he'd have satisfaction at Lanigan's Ball.

Chorus

In the midst of the row, Miss Kerrigan fainted
Her cheeks at the same time as red as a rose
Some of the boys decreed she was painted
She took a small drop too much, I suppose
Her sweetheart Ned Morgan, so powerful and able
When he saw his fair colleen stretched by the wall
He tore the left leg from under the table
And smashed all the dishes at Lanigan's Ball.

Chorus

Boys, oh boys, 'tis then there were ructions
Myself got a kick from big Phelim McHugh
But soon I replied to his kind introduction
And kicked up a terrible hullabaloo
Ould Casey the piper was near being strangled
They squeezed up his pipes, bellows, chanters, and all
The girls in their ribbons, they all got entangled
And that put an end to Lanigan's Ball.

Chorus

Notable Versions:

The Brobdingnagian Bards - Sample/Purchase Download
Fiddler's Green - Sample/Purchase Download
Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band - Sample/Purchase Download