Cloghamon Mill

Cloghamon Mill is a song dating from around 1815 in County Wexford, Ireland. It describes a mill built at Clohamon near Newtownbarry (now Bunclody).

The mill was said to be on the River Slaney, about a mile below Bunclody. A cotton mill is known to have built at Clohamon here from around 1835, along with later a woollen mill. The song may refer these, or the extensive water mills thought to have existed in the area prior to the establishment of the 1835 mill. Mills were prominent in the area at the time, as the local population was mainly employed in mills in the 1830's.

The below verses are said to part, but not all of the song. The absent verses are said to be about:"'the attention of the neighbouring gentry to the wants of the poor; and the poet, relaxing the strain, kept up to this point on his imagination, makes a rather commonplace conclusion to his ode, which we are obliged to omit, having, as we trust, supplied sufficient data to determine the measure of our bard's genius'."

Lyrics
The recorded song with arrangement by traditional singer Paddy Berry feature the below lyrics. You gods of brilliant genius that's endowed with elocution And by versification have immortalized your name Revive my drooping intellect, I crave a contribution Of assistance while I harmonize with eloquence my theme Forgive me not for rashness to attempt impossibilities Though I am stimulated by a motive of goodwill Though an inexperienced tyro in the dawn of native literature I intend to state the praises of Cloghamon's brand new mill.

This magnificent structure of divine architecture We built in anno domini eighteen and sixteen When by final perseverance it was brought to an accomplishment Its like was seldom ever seen in Erin the green To give a good idea about its spaciousness and symmetry Is far beyond the limits of my feeble poet's pen But in every direction tis a bulwark of perfection Hibernia's boast and glory is Cloghamon's brand new mill.

No wonder I should deem it an object of astonishment, When men of great discernment came from near and far To view this lofty building, of which it is related That it was prognosticated by a great fiery star These grand configurations, the beauty of creation, Was brought to calculation by astronomical skill Twas perspicuously expounded and foretold there would be founded Near the town of Newtonberry an admirable mill.

Now the gentry of this country, for rural recreation, The sweet meandering banks of the Slaney do serenade Where the beauties of nature are arranged in true reality And the white trout is abounding in each crystal cascade When on this lofty building you feast your curiosity And view each grand invention of artifice and skill The critical machinery and curious elevation Obtained great approbation for Cloghamon's brand new mill.

The first recorded lyrics (below) were published in 1863. The same were lyrics were recorded by folklorist Patrick Kennedy, which he heard in The Duffrey, County Wexford before publishing them in 1869.

You lads of brilliant genius that's endowed with elocution And by versification have immortalized your name To revive my drooping intellect, I crave a contribution Of assistance for to harmonize with eloquence my theme Condemn me not for rashness to attempt impossibilities As I am stimulated by a motive of good will; Though an inexperienced tyro in the dawn of native literature, I intend to state the praises of Cloghamon New Mill.

This magnificent structure of sublime architecture Was founded in Anno Domini eighteen hundred and fifteen, When by final perseverance it was brought to an accomplishment Its parallel could not be found in Erin the Green. To give a perfect idea of its spaciousness and symmetry, Is far beyond the limits of a feeble poet's skill, In every direction 'tis a bulwark of perfection; Hibernia's boast and glory is Cloghamon New Mill.

No wonder I should deem it an object of astonishment, When men of great discernment arrived from afar To view this lofty building, of which it is related That it was prognosticated by a great fiery star. These grand conflagrations - the wonder of creation, Were brought to calculation by astronomical skill; 'Twas perspicuously expounded, and foretold there would be founded Near the town of Newtonberry, this admirable mill.

Now the gentry of this country, for rural recreation, The sweet meandering banks of the Slaney do surnade, Where the paintings of Nature are arranged in true reality – The white trout abounding in each crystal cascade When on the noble building they feasted their curiosity And viewed each grand invention of artifice and skill, The critical machinery and curious elevation Obtained great approbation for Cloghamon New Mill.