Clare County Library: Songs of Clare - Auld Scoláire Hat sung by Susie Cleary

Auld Scoláire Hat
Susie Cleary
The Hand, near Miltown Malbay
Recorded in singer’s home, July1976
Carroll Mackenzie Collection

Patsy Murphy brags about the hat his father wore;
No doubt it was a bright cáipín in the merry days of yore.
‘Twas built a hundred years ago and the devil the worse of that,
For regularly the dazzler was my auld scoláire hat.

It was worn by my father at the patterns, dance and fair.
When all the boys and pretty girls were sure to be all there.
It was built a hundred years ago and the devil the worse of that,
For regularly the dazzler is my auld scoláire hat.

Oh where did you get the hat, the collar and the tie?
Isn’t it a nice one, it’s just the proper style.
It was built a hundred years ago and the devil the worse of that
For regularly the dazzler is me auld scoláire hat.

Oh I met the King of England a week ago today,
He took me warmly by the hand and asked me home to tae.
‘Oh Pat’, says he, ‘I’m glad to see you’re looking so fine and fat.’
But all the time he's ? [looking] at me auld scoláire hat.

"This was written as 'My Old Killarney Hat', by Dublin baritone songwriter, Leo Maguire (1903–1985).
Maguire was born in Dublin's inner city, where he trained as a baritone under Vincent O'Brien, John McCormack's voice teacher. For many years he performed with the Dublin Operatic Society. He wrote over 100 songs, his best known being ‘The Whistling Gypsy', a rewrite of the Child Ballad 'The Gypsy Laddie' (Child 200). Maguire also wrote parodies and humorous songs under the name Sylvester Gaffney."
Jim Carroll

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