And as I rode out through Galway Town to seek for recreation On the seventeenth of August, me mind being elevated There were multitudes assembled with their tickets at the station And me eyes began to dazzle and they're going to see the races
With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay
There were passengers from Limerick and passengers from Nenagh Passengers from Dublin and sportsmen from Tipperary There were passengers from Kerry and all quarters of the nation And our member Mr Hardy for to join the Galway Blazers
With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay
There were multitudes from Aran and members from New Quay shore The boys from Connemara and the Clare unmarried maidens People from Cork City who were loyal, true and faithful They brought home the Fenian prisoners from dying in foreign nations
With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay
And it's there you'll see confectioners with sugarsticks and dainties The lozenges and oranges, the lemonade and raisins Gingerbread and spices to accomodate the ladies And a big crubeen for thruppence to be suckin' while you're able
With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay
And it's there you'll see the gamblers, the thimbles and the garters And the sporting Wheel of Fortune with the four and twenty quarters There was others without scruple pelting wattles at poor Maggy And her daddy well contented to be gawking at his daughter
With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay
And it's there you'll see the pipers and the fiddlers competing The nimble-footed dancers and they trippin' on the daisies There was others shoutin' cigars and lights and bills for all the races With the colours of the jockey and the price and horses' ages
With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay
And it's there you'll see the jockeys and they mounted on so stately The pink, the blue, the orange and green, the emblem of our nation When the bell was rung for starting all the horses seemed impatient I thought they never stood on ground, their speed was so amazing
With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay
There was half a million people there of all denominations The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew and Presbyterian There was yet no animosity no matter what persuasion But fáilte and hospitality inducing Mr Paisley
With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay With me whack fol the do fol the diddlely idle ay