"Where The 3 Counties Meet" (also written "Where The Three Counties Meet") is a 1973 Irish traditional song by Brendan Shine.[1][2][3]
| "Where the 3 Counties Meet" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Brendan Shine | ||||
| B-side | "Bright City Lights" | |||
| Released | 1973 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Studio | Eamonn Andrews Studios | |||
| Genre | Irish traditional | |||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label | Play | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Patsy Farrell | |||
| Producer(s) | Bill O'Donovan | |||
| Brendan Shine singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Lyrics
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The song is named for Lough Ree, where the three Irish counties of Longford, Roscommon and Westmeath meet at a tripoint. Also mentioned in the song are the towns of Athlone and Glassan, The Three Jolly Pigeons (a pub on the Athlone–Ballymahon road) and the River Shannon.[4] The song is from the point of view of a member of the Irish diaspora, working in construction in a foreign land and longing to return home.[5]
Song history
edit"Where The 3 Counties Meet" was written by Patsy Farrell (1929–2002) of Rathowen.[6][7][8]
"Where The 3 Counties Meet" was released by Brendan Shine in 1973, and was number one on the Irish Singles Chart for two weeks in August 1973.[9] Spotlight magazine named it Record of the Year.[10]
References
edit- ^ Illingworth, R. (2016). The Little Book of Westmeath. United Kingdom: History Press.
- ^ "Farming for meat where the three counties meet". Tuam Herald. May 11, 2022.
- ^ "Old-word gem where three counties meet". www.independent.ie. May 30, 2012.
- ^ "Irish Song Lyrics - Where the Three Counties Meet". www.irishsongs.com.
- ^ "Where the Three Counties Meet lyrics and chords". Irish Music Daily.
- ^ "The musical soldier". Westmeath Independent. August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Foster and Allen to launch first Patsy Farrell Festival". www.longfordleader.ie.
- ^ Post, Irish. "Summer festivals, fleadhs and flings in Ireland". The Irish Post.
- ^ "Brendan Shine age, biography". Last.fm.
- ^ "Brendan Shine". www.irish-showbands.com.