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FAMOUS SONGS
to which it is usually sung—" The Pretty Girl milking the Cows," known also as " The song of Prince Breffin " It is given by Walker in his " Irish Bards," and by Bunting. It is a divinely plaintive melody. Dion Boucicault introduced it into " The Colleen Bawn," and Sir Julius Benedict also used it in " The Lily of Killarney." The melody is very ancient indeed. The first known words to it were written by the witty Andrew MacGrath, who was born about 1700.
" Lord Mayo" is another ancient song, written by an humble dependent of Lord Mayo named David Murphy, who having got into disgrace hid himself in his master's hall on a certain Christmas eve after nightfall; and in the hope of winning back forgiveness made a twin out-pouring of music and verse. Bunting calls it "one of the finest productions that ever did honour to any country." Walker tells the story at length. The original Irish name of the air is "Tiagharna Mhaighe-eo." It was specially chosen and sung at the " Feis Ceoil," or National Festival of Irish music, Dublin, in the middle of May, 1897.
That jovial song " The Monks of the Screw," which appears in Charles Lever's novel of" Jack Hinton," was written by the Right Honourable John Philpot Curran, full particulars of which—
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