This damaged programme page from Ireland in ’98 at Dundee’s Alhambra Music Hall features scenes set at the Limerick Races and Donnybrook Fair. It includes song lyrics, plot summaries, and descriptions of comic acts, dances, and novelty performances.
SCENE V. – VIEW OF …CK
FROM THE RIVER SI… Painted by Mr T. CHINN, from a … spot.
The Road to the Races. Blind Fiddler. …ants!
Card Sharpers. Policemen. Itinerant Mus… Ballad
Singers. Punch and Judy Show. Peasants. Pau… Corney. Corney and
Kate. All going to the Races.
SCENE VI.
LIMERICK RACES
WITH ALL THE FUN OF
DONNYBROOK FAIR.
Painted by Mr T. CHINN.
Walk up! Walk up! The Rival Showmen. Wombwell’s Royal Menagerie. The Performing Elephant. Day’s Royal Theatre. Temple of Arts. The Noble Art of Self-defence, by 2 eminent Members of the P. R. Dan Cooke’s collection of Living Wonders. The Giant. The Dwarf. Aunt Sally. Treacle and Rolls. Sack-Race. The Races. The Squire, disguised, bets heavily on the Race. Great excitement. The start. They’re off. The Race is lost, and with it the Squire loses his money and his temper. Paddy’s Donkeys, introduced by Messrs Dempsey and McGuinness. Acrobats. Drink, boys, drink. Play up, Fiddler. Let’s have a
CORNEY Sings – Air, “Kitty of Colraine,”
As beautiful Kitty, one morning was tripping,
With a pitcher of Milk from the fair of Colraine,
When she saw me, she stumbled, the pitcher it tumbled,
And all the sweet Butter-milk watered the plain.
Arrah! what shall I do now ? ’twas looking at you now,
Och, sure! such a pitcher I’ll never meet again,
‘Twas the pride of my dairy, Oh! Barney McClarey,
You’re a plague to the girls who live in Colraine.
Dance. Irish Jig by 50 Auxiliaries. Punch and Judy. The Acrobats. The Performing Gorilla. The Rival Bobbies. Lots of Fun and Whisky. Who’ll tread on the tail o’ my coat? by Messrs Dempsey & McGuinness.
“CORNEY and PAUDEEN Sings – Who’ll tread on the tail o’ my Coat?”
PAUDEEN.
My name it is Paudeen the reckless,
I was born in the County Wicklow;
Is there ever a boy in the Fair now,
Dare offer to strike me a blow?
CORNEY.
I was a divil for boxing and fighting,
When a wee-shee bit of a lad;
In that same sure, I take great delight
And so did my darling old dad.
Who’ll tread on the tails of our Coats ? ah, ha!
Who’ll tread on the tails of our Coats?
There’s never a boy in the Fair now,
Dare tread on the tails of our Coats.
GENERAL UPROAR, ENDING IN
A RALE DONNYBROOK FIGHT!
The Squire is discovered by Corney. Desperate Struggle. The Villian Defeated
FINALE TABLEAUX.