School: St Peter's, Phibsboro

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1. Local Songs (continued)

   “A song writes who still lives in the distinct of”

   

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   (continued from previous page)

   must have been a unique event of the times, viz, the granting of a road-building contract to a woman.

   This woman contractor known as "Aley Tom" was a resident of the Ballybay District and she secured the contract of cutting a road through Coravoe Bog in the Aghnafareon district, Parish of Donaghmoyne. "Aley" by the way is commonly used as a alternative name for "Alice" in Co. Monaghan.

   Aley was extremely mannish in her deportment, and constantly smoked a clay pipe. She was a stern overseer. A few lines of the song ran somewhat as follows.

   "She has fell out with the party along the bloomin route
   An law will be the finish up and that without a doubt ---------
   --------------------------

   Here's to Peter Hamill, a very deicant man, who says he gave two acres of arable good land,
   And if he doesnt get the best of Aley
   He must try some other plan"

   Aley was constantly at loggerheads with the farmers through whose land the road was being constructed.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)
   2. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. entertainments and recreational activities (~5,933)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Séamus Breathnach

   Gender

   Male