Being a genealogy addict, one of my favorite things to do is watch videos about the places and events of my ancestors' past. While watching an interesting series about the Irish immigrants to America, I heard an Irish-American folk song that peaked my interest when I heard my Irish ancestor's name - "McGinnis" among the lyrics. The song is called "Dear Old Donegal" written by Steve Graham.
There are several variations of the song, but here you can listen to Bing Crosby singing a rendition of it in 1945, courtesy of Archive.org. Click the play button!
Have a look around Donegal while you listen, courtesy of Google Maps. Click or tap on the image or the arrows to move or look around.
Dear Old Donegal (Lyrics)
Three years ago this very day
I left the port of Cork
And on a ship from Erin's isle
I landed in New York
Without a friend to meet me there
The stranger on the shore
But I wore an honest Irish heart
And fortune came galore
So here I am back again
On dear old Erin's isle
My friends say meet me on the quay
And greet me with a smile
For their faces there I've surely forgot
For I was so long away
But me mother she introduces all
And this is what she say
Shake hands with your uncle Mike, me boy
Shake hands with your sister Kate
And this is the girl you used to swing down on the garden gate
Shake hands with all of the neighbors and kiss the Colleens all
You're as welcome as the flowers in May to Dear Old Donegal
Well they gave a party when I came back and they came from near and far
And the road was lined for near a mile with Irish jaunting cars
And the whiskey flowed like buttermilk to fill our hearts with joy
And the piper played an Irish reel to greet the Yankee boy
So tomorrow off to church I’ll go and wedded I will be
To my pretty little Colleen sweet Bitty McGee,
For Bitty was true and faithful to her Barney o'er the sea
And we’ll join the harps and shamrocks for the stars of liberty
There came Brannigan, Flannigan, Milligan, Gilligan,
Duffy, McGuffy, Malackey, Mahone,
Rafferty, Laugherty, Donnelly, Connelly,
Dooley, O'Hooley, Muldowney, Malone,
Colona, O'Honahar, Lanihan, Flannihan,
Fagen, O'Hagen, O'Hoolihan, Flynn,
Shannahan, Manahan, Fogerty, Hogerty,
Kelly, O'Skelly, McGinnis, McGinn.
Then shake the hand of your uncle Mike
And the hand of your sister Kate
And I’ll hug and I’ll squeeze as much as I please the girl in the Garden Gate
Then invite all the neighbors to the wedding great and small
And I’ll live content and pay no rent in Dear Old Donegal