The Old Cross of Arboe

The Old Cross Of Arboe - Philomena Begley

Fare ye well my native green

Clad hills fare ye well my shamrock plain

Ye verdant banks of sweet Lough Neagh

Your silvery winding streams

Although far from home an old Tyrone

Too far from you I've strayed

I adore you Killacolpy

Where in childhood days

I stray

Shall I ever roam through Belmount grove

Or Carnan's lofty hills

Or hear again the fairy tale

Of the rath beside the mill

Shall I ever behold Shane's Castle bold

Or walk on Mazzereene

Shall my cot ever land on the banks

Of the Bann Coney Island or Roskeen

All my friends out here in America

Have all that their hearts desire

Their pockets filled with dollar bills

And dressed in grand attire

But they'd give it all for one country ball

Beside be old hearth stone

In my cabin near Lough Neagh so dear

In my own dear native home

Since though alas long years have passed

I toast this beauteous isle

Short or long on that land of song

May the star of peace so child

May plenty bloom from the Bann to Toome

When the verdant shamrocks grow

Green round my graves

My love

Neagh's waves

And the Old Cross of Ardboe