Lannigan's Ball 

(Traditional, arranged Neil Anderson/Kirk McLeod) (excerpt in chorus from 'Delirium Tremens' by C. Moore)



Saint Patrick was a Gentleman 

He came from descent people 

He built a church in Dublin town 

And on it he put a steeple 

The Wicklow hills are very high 

And so is the hill of Howth sir 

But there's a hill much higher still 

Much higher than them both sir 

On top of this high hill 

St Patrick preached a sermon 

Drove the frogs into the bogs 

And he vanished all the vermin 

There's not a mile of Eireann's Isle 

Where dirty vermin musters 

There he put his dear forefoot 

And murdered them in clusters 

The frogs went hop and the toads went pop 

Slapdash into the water 

The snakes committed suicide 

To save themselves from slaughter 

900,000 reptiles blue 

He charmed with sweet discourses 

Dined on them in Killaloe 

On soups and second courses 

Blind worms crawling in the grass 

Disgusted all the nation 

Right down to hell with a holy spell 

He changed their situation 

Was I but so fortunate 

To be back in home in Munster 

I'd be bound that from that ground 

I never more would once stir 

There St Patrick planted turf 

Cabbages and praties 

Pigs galore, mo grá, mo stóir 

Altar boys and ladies



In the town of Athy, one Jeremy Lanigan battered away till he hadn't a shilling 

His father died, made him a man again, left him a farm and ten acres of ground 

He threw a grand party for friends and relations, hadn't forgot them when it came to the will 

If you'll but listen I'll make your eyes glisten at rousing, rusing at Lannigan's Ball 



Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all, 

Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan's ball. 

Six long months I spent in Dublin, six long months doing nothing at all, 

Six long months I spent in Dublin, learning to dance for Lannigan's ball. 



There was lashings of drink wine for the ladies, pipes, tabaccy, brandy and tea 

Nolans and Dolans and all the O'Gradys, courting the girls and dancing away 

Well the boys were merry and the girls all hearty dancing around in their couples and groups 

An accident happened; Terence McCarthy; He put his boot through Miss Finnerty's hoops



You've heard of St. Guinness of France, he never had a pulpit to brag on 

You've heard of St. George and his lance, he killed the old heathenous dragon 

The saints of the Welshmen and Scots they're a couple of pitiful pipers

They might as well go to pot when compared to the patron of vipers! 



St. Patrick was a gentleman 

He came from descent people 

He built a church in Dublin town 

And on it he put a steeple 

The Wicklow hills are very high 

And so is the hill of Howth sir 

But there's a hill much higher still 

Much higher than them both sir 

On top of this high hill 

St Patrick preached a sermon 

Drove the frogs into the bogs 

And he vanished all the vermin 

There's not a mile of Eireann's Isle 

Where dirty vermin musters 

There he put his dear forefoot 

And murdered them in clusters 

The frogs went hop and the toads went pop 

Slapdash into the water 

The snakes committed suicide 

To save themselves from slaughter 

900,000 reptiles blue 

He charmed with sweet discourses 

Murdered them in Killaloe 

On soups and second courses 



Boys oh boys 'tis then there was ructions, I got a belt from Phelim Mc Hugh 

I replied to his introduction, kicked up a terrible hullabaloo. 

Moloney the piper was near gettin' strangled, pipes, bellows, regulator, changer and all 

His Pipe and his pipes they all got entangled and that put an end to Lannigan's ball