Rossbeigh’s Lovely Scene

The following lines were collected as part of the national folklore collection for schools 1937-1939. It was collected by John O’Shea, Rang VII, Cromán National School, from his Father, Pádraig O’Séaghda (51). The múinteoir was Diarmuid Ó Brosnacháin. The shortness of the song would suggest that additional verses have been lost to us. However the verses that remain hold a fascinating insight into one particular day in the life of Rossbeigh and its surrounding area. The verses pre-date the burning of the Landlords residence ‘Wynn’s Castle’ by Republicans in 1921 and possibly refer to the period around World War I when the ‘Castle’ and grounds were let to the British Military Command and used as a training centre for reservists. The verse referring to target practice in the sandbanks by the Crown Forces is of significant historical importance. The Great Southern and Western Railway Company (GS & WR) opened the 12.5 miles long rail link between Farranfore and Iveragh Road in Killorglin with the Irish gauge of 5 ft 3 in on 15 January 1885. The line was extended by 27 miles to Valentia Harbour, where it terminated, commencing in 1890 and formally opened on 12 September 1893.

Source: CBÉ: 437:95

You ladies and gentlemen come listen to me.

I’ll sing you a few verses that will keep you in glee,

Concerning our visit to Rossbeigh by the sea

As we were walking along the Ross road.

The soldiers preparing their canons to load

Their exploding shells on the sand-banks did fall

And their shrill sounding whistle astonished us all.

Glenbeigh’s lovely station we had for a stop

To perform our journey safe o’er the wide-dock

When a bugle it sounds o’er the deep rolling tide

By an English soldier on the high mountain side.