Top of Inny Side

There are many versions of this song collected from the community and some confusion reigns as to the original. The five verses below were collected by Herbert Hughes in 1936 and are the oldest version of this song collected by the Binneas project to date.

I am far away both night and day from scenes I’ve loved so dear,

Scenes of joy and beauty that they were for the many a year,

Scenes of sport and pleasure which I boast of with pride,

And I’ve left them all behind me on the top of Inny’s side.

How often did I climb Cnocmeal for to pick the berries there,

Cast my eyes upon those things that nature made so fair,

There are mountains towering over them where hares and rabbits hide,

And goats and sheep are grazing on the top of Inny’s side.

How many were the sports we had, on Sundays after mass,

Running, jumping, dancing likewise pitch and toss.

Hurling, wrestling and fishing, and other sports besides,

These were the games and amusements on the top of Inny’s side.

And I see that noble Inny’s side, by night in winter time.

Torches blazing in a line was a picture most sublime.

I had often joined my comrade boys, and each man would have died,

For to save the others from disgrace on the top of Inny’s side.

And when bailiffs used their efforts for to frighten us away,

We ne’er received them coldly but oft times did annoy,

We ne’er received them coldly but always did deride,

And showed that we were poachers on the top of Inny’s side

It is not known who Herbert Hughes collected the five previous verses from. The four verses below may have been missed at the time of his collection or added later. It is thought locally that a man by the name of Reilly from Scariff, near Waterville composed the song. He worked as a monitor in Chaisleach National School and later left for America.

‘Tis many the pleasant evening that we spent at Rahilly’s cross,

When worn out from the dancing we lay upon the grass.

Listening to the music and the dancers true and mild,

And to court the girls who loved the boys on the top of Inny side.

I hope those boys and girls will keep up the game of yore,

And although I’m many miles away I miss them more and more.

For they were warm hearted, most generous and kind,

Those boys and girls I left behind on the top of Inny side.

I often took a ramble up to Direen and Droum,

Likewise to Lios a’ tSonnaigh an Moul and Cashlagh around.

And back again to Faha cross where I did reside,

Where the girls and boys were dancing on the top of Inny side.