This ballad was written in 1955 by Donegal songwriter Seán McBride and performed here, most famously, but Paul Brady. From the all-knowing Wikipedia, we learn:

McBride was a native of Cruit Island which is in the Rosses area of County Donegal.

Seán only wrote the lyrics, the actual air itself may be 150 or more years old, there are many songs around using the same melody, the closest one is a song called “The Faughan Side”, This song was part of the Curriculum in national schools in East Donegal and as Seán was a Teacher in the “Laggan Valley” (South Inishowen) It seems prudent to many people to assume he got his inspiration for the “Homes of Donegal” from “The Faughan Side”.

Homes Of Donegal

I’ve just called in to see you all, I’ll only stay a while
I want to see how you’re getting on, I want to see you smile.
I’m happy to be back again, I greet you big and small,
For there’s no place else on earth just like the homes of Donegal.

I always see the happy faces, smiling at the door,
The kettle swinging on the crook, as I step up the floor.
And soon the taypot’s fillin’ up me cup that’s far from small,
For your hearts are like your mountains, in the homes of Donegal.

To see your homes at parting day of that I never tire,
And hear the porridge bubblin’ in a big pot on the fire.
The lamp alight, the dresser bright, the big clock on the wall,
O, a sight serene, celestial scene, in the homes of Donegal.

Continue reading →