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As I rode down to Galway town to seek for recreation |
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On the seventeenth of August me mind being elevated |
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There were multitudes assembled with their tickets at the station |
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Me eyes began to dazzle and I'm goin' to see the races. |
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Chorus: With your whack-fa-the-da-for-the-diddle-ee-iddle-day. |
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There were passengers from Limerick and passengers from Nenagh |
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And passengers from Dublin and sportsmen from Tipperary |
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There were passengers from Kerry, and all quarters of our nation |
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And our member, Mr. Hearst, for to join the Galway Blazers. |
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There were multitudes from Aran, and members from New Quay Shore |
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Boys from Connemara and the Claire unmarried maidens |
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There were people from Cork city who were loyal, true and faithful; |
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Who brought home the Fenian prisoners from diverse foreign nations. |
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It's there you'll see confectioners with sugarsticks and dainties |
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The lozenges and oranges, the lemonade and raisins! |
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The gingerbread and spices to accomodate the ladies |
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And a big crubeen for thruppence to be pickin' while you're able. |
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It's there you'll see the gamblers, the thimbles and the garters |
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And the spotting Wheel of Fortune with the four and twenty quarters |
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There was others without scruple pelting wattles at poor Maggy |
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And her father well-contented and he lookin' at his daughter. |
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It's there you'll see the pipers and the fiddlers competing |
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The nimble footed dancers a-tripping over the daisies |
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There were others crying cigars and lights and bills for all the races |
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With the colors of the jockeys and the prize and horses' ages. |
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It's there you'll see the jockeys and they're mounted out so stately |
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The pink, the blue, the orange, and green, the emblem of our nation |
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When the bell was rung for starting, all the horses seemed impatient |
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I thought they never stood on ground their speed was so amazing. |
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There was half a million people there from all denominations |
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The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew, and Presbyterian |
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There was yet no animosity, no matter what persuasion |
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But "failte" and hospitality inducin' fresh acquaintance. |