Stephen Leeson - The Banks Of The Moy | The Stable Sessions

Stephen Leeson sings “The Banks of the Moy” live from The Stable Sessions.
The Banks Of The Moy is an old traditional song of the hardships in Irish history during the famine, and the injustice endured. Stephen breathes new life into this song, as he honours the history of the Island and those past. The crisp banjo playing teamed with Stephens deep and powerful voice paint a vivid picture of a young boys struggles as a working class Irish immigrant.
"I am in constant search of songs and I have found several different versions of this old traditional song. A great song written about Michael Davitt 1846 - 1906. Michael was born in the height of the famine and at only 4 years of age his family was evicted from their home due to arrears in rent and his family emigrated to England for a better way of life. Michael was brought up in a small community of Irish immigrants who had a deep hatred for landlordism. He also had an extraordinary life fighting for the working class people while in and out of prison for doing so. I love singing this song in remembrance of the hardship that ordinary working class people endured and we are still to this day struggling against landlords."
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Lyrics:
One day as I went for a ramble, from Swinford to sweet Ballylee
I met with a maid as I rambled, her name it was Maggie McGee
And she said “For the sake of old Ireland, Michael Davitt, my brave Irish boy. He is now in the prison of Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy
He is now in the prison of Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy
I quickly approached the poor maiden, asked her what was the cause of her woe
And what was the reason for misery, which forced her from home for to go
She sighed ” For the rights of old Ireland, Michael Davitt my brave Irish boy
He is now in the prison of Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy
He is now in the prison of Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy
Don’t talk of your sweet sixty-seven, we had brave men and true men also
We had young Peter Carney, from Turlough, he died in Killarney also
He was drilled by my darling Mick Davitt, from the valleys and plains of Fermoy
that’s why he’s a prisoner in Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy
that’s why he’s a prisoner in Portland, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy
Now to conclude and to finish, I hope that the day will soon come
When those cruel landlords and bailiffs from the isle of Saint Patrick must run
We'll unfurl our green and gold banners, we’ll raise them for Ireland on high
And we will toast to our brave Michael Davitt, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy
And we will toast to our brave Michael Davitt, far from the lovely sweet banks of the Moy
Credits:
Musicians:
Stephen Leeson - lead vocal and guitar.
James O Connor - accordion and backing vocals, also guitar on one track (Mary Mack)
Peter McMahon - percussion and backing vocals.
Patrick Cummins - banjo and mandolin.
Director: Oleg Rudkovskij
Director of Photography (DOP) : Mark O'Rourke
Editor: Oleg Rudkovskij (Stephen Leeson) Julie Hassett (Ian Drew)
Camera Operators: Oleg Rudkovskij, Mark O'Rourke, JJ Sullivan (Ian Drew)
Oleg Rudkovskij, Mark O'Rourke, JJ Sullivan, Kark Walsh (Stephen Leeson)
Sound : Eoin Morrissey
Mixed and Mastered by Eoin Morrissey