[Verse 1]
In the lowland of Creggan, there lives a white hare,
As swift as the swallow that flies through the air.
You may tramp the world over but none to compare
to the pride of old Creggan, that bonnie white hare.
[Verse 2]
One clear autumn morning, as you will suppose,
ohh The red golden sun oâer the green mountain rose.
Barney Conway came down and he did declare,
âThis day Iâll put an end to the bonnie white hare.â
[Verse 3]
so He searched through the lowlands and down through the glens,
all among the wild ditches where the white hare had ends,
Till at last coming down oâer the heather so fair,
From behind the wild thistle out jumps the white hare.
[Verse 4]
âBang! bang!â went his gun and his dogs it slipped too.
As swift as the wind over the green mountain flew.
But his dog soon came back, and it made Barney sigh,
For he knew that the white hare had bid him goodbye.
[Verse 5]
and Weâre some jolly sportsmen down here from Pomeroy
From Cookstown, Dungannon, and likewise the Moy.
With our pedigree greyhounds weâve travelled from far
And weâve come down to Creggan in our fine motor car.
[Verse 6]
well into the lowlands these huntsmen did go
In search of the white hare they look high and low,
Till at last Barney Conway from a bog bank so rare
Shouted out to the huntsmen, âThere lies the white hare.â
[Verse 7]
so They call up their greyhounds from off the green lea
And Barney and the huntsmen all jumped high with glee,
it was there on the bog bank all gathered around,
Seven dogs and nine men did that poor hare surround.
[Verse 8]
Oh No wonder the white hare did tremble with fear
As she stood on her hind legs, she would raise her big ears,
as she stood on her hind legs with one gallant spring,
She jumped over the greyhounds and broke through the ring.
[Verse 9]
Well that chase It went on, it was beautiful view
As swift as the wind oâer the green mountain flew.
But those pedigree greyhounds, they didnât run far.
They come back and went home in their fine motor car.
[Verse 10]
Then there came another man and you all know him well;
His name was mick kelly with the Bonnie Black Nell.
oh In search of the white hare, today âIâll have fun.
ill bet fifty to one my Black Nell does her turn.â
[Verse 11]
Five turns the hare got then from Bonnie Black Nell,
And the sixth one was given around John Haugheyâs well.
âit was there we lost sight of the hare and the dog,
And then ten minutes later they come oâer the bog.
[Verse 12]
Well, that chase it went on. It was great for to see.
The white hare and the black dog both roamed light and free,
Till she travelled to Esker where she knew the lands well,
And to Bonnie Black Nell there soon bid farewell.
[Verse 13]
Oh And now to conclude and to finish this rhyme
I hope youâll forgive me for singing all this while.
If thereâs any amongst you in Carrick more fair,
please drink up a health to that bonnie white hare.
