Published first in English and then later in Irish, this old number was written in 1892 by songwriter Harold Boulton, who became inspired after visiting the real life Dromore Castle. It is about a poor Irish mother pleading with the Lord and Lady of a lavish castle to give her and her newborn food and shelter for the night. The nobles cruelly refuse, leaving the mother and her baby to suffer the cold embrace of the wild banshee haunting the woods.
Lyrics
The October winds lament
Around the Castle of Dromore
Yet peace is in her lofty halls
My loving treasure store
Though Autumn vines may droop and die
A bud of spring are you.
Sing hushabye low, lah, loo, lo lan
Sing hushabye low, lah loo.
Bring no ill will to hinder us
My helpless babe and me
Dread spirit of the Blackwater
Clan Owen's wild banshee
And Holy Mary pitying us in Heaven
For grace doth sue.
Sing hushabye low, lah, loo, lo lan
Sing hushabye low, lah loo.
Take time to thrive my ray of hope
In the Garden of Dromore
Take heed young eaglet
Till thy wings are feathered fit to soar
A little rest and then our land
Is full of things to do.
Sing hushabye low, lah, loo, lo lan
Sing hushabye low, lah loo.
Sing hushabye low, lah, loo, lo lan
Sing hushabye low, lah loo.