Master McGrath

Master McGrath - Danu

Lyrics by：Traditional

Composed by：Traditional/Brendan McCarthy/Nell Ní Chróinín/Edward Doorley/Oisin McAuley/Anthony Byrne/Ivan Goff

1869 being the date and the year

Those Waterloo sportsmen and more did appear

Oh to view the great prizes and bear them awa'

Never counting on Ireland and Master McGrath

On the 12th of December that day of renown

McGrath and his keeper hey left Lurgan town

And a gale in the channel it soon drove them o'er

On the 13th they landed on fair England's shore

And when they arrived there in great London Town

Those grand English sportsmen they all gathered 'round

And one of those gentlemen gave a "ha-ha"

Saying "is that the great dog they call Master McGrath?"

Lord Lurgan stepped forward and he said "gentlemen

If there's any among you has money to spend

For your great English greyhound I don't care a straw

Five thousand to one upon Master McGraw"

White Rose stood uncovered the great English pride

Her trainer and owner were both by her side

Oh they let her away and the crowd cried "hurrah"

For the pride of all England and Master McGrath

As Rose and the Master they both ran along

"I wonder" says Rose "what took you from your home

You should've stayed there in your Irish domain

And not come to gain laurels on Albion's plain"

"Well I know" says McGrath "we have wild heather bogs

But you'll find in old Ireland we have good men and dogs

Lead on bold Britannia give none of your jaw

For I'll garnish your laurels" says Master McGrath

Oh the hare she led off what a beautiful view

As swift as the wind o'er the green fields she flew

He jumped on the hares back and he held up his paw

"Three cheers for old Ireland" says Master McGrath

I've known many greyhounds that filled me with pride

In the days that are gone but it can't be denied

That the greatest and the bravest the world ever saw

Was our champion of champions bold Master McCrath