Here's a fine recording of Daoiri singing The Shady Woods Of Truagh.
Lyrics and chords:
As intro and accompaniment of the first verse Daoiri only uses 2 chords. I'm not sure of the names of the chords, I call them D7 (7,10,0,0) and Bm7 (7,9,0,0)
{t:The Shady Woods Of Truagh}
{st:Daoiri Farrell}
Intro:[D7no3][Bm7no5]
Out [D7]from the shady [Bm7]woods of Truagh
Mac[D7]Kenna rides at [Bm7]noon
And the [D7]sun shone brightly
[Bm7]Not a cloud dark [D7]in the sky of [Bm]June
[D7]No eye had he for [Bm7]nature’s charms
[D7]They don’t deny his [Bm7]brain
As by [D7]flowery vales he [Bm]makes his way
And [D7]never draws the [Bm7]reins
Until be[D7]fore him [G]looms the [C]tall grey [G/B]towers
Of [Am]Glaslough [C]Castle [D]Hold [Em7][D/F#]
Which [D]holds a treasure [C]in its [D]walls
[G]More dear to [C]him than [D]gold
For [D]within it dwells his [C]own true [D]love
His [G]dark eyed [C]young [D]Maureen
Who one [D]day he [G]hopes will [C]bless his [G/B]home
In the [Am]woods of [C]Truagh so [D7]green
I have come he cried to see you love
For tomorrow I must go
With my brave Truagh Men to Benburb
For to defend Owen Roe
I have come he cried to see you my love
And to hear your accent sweet
For I might in this battle fall
And never again we'll meet
Go forth my love, my blessing go
And smite that Saxon horde
And when you return
Oh, we will be wed without another word
And with a fond embrace
He's bid her adieu as the evening sun went down
Behind yon western wooded hill
That overlooks Glaslough Town
Oh MacKenna he lightly mounts his steed
At the twilight of the eve
And he heads her over Dasa Hill
And Truagh’s green shady Lee
And that night he leads his gallant men
O’er the dark hills of Tyrone
Where he meets the army of the North
At Benburb on their own
Right well O’Neill was glad to see
These gallant mountaineers
Who kept the Saxon wolves at bay
In Truagh for many years
And right well they fought on Benburb’s Plains
As the English flag went down
And few that night escaped them
Through Carrickfergus Town
Oh and Autumn’s cold was in the air
And berries ripe and red
MacKenna and his fair young bride
In Glaslough Church were wed
And never in her father’s life
A fairer bride was seen
Than McMahon’s only daughter
The dark eyed young Maureen
The Journey & Love:
McKenna rides from the woods of Truagh toward Glaslough to see Maureen. He’s not particularly distracted by the beauty of nature; his focus is on her. Maureen is more precious to him than gold.War is approaching:
McKenna reveals he must leave soon. He is joining the “Truaghmen” in a battle at Benburb to defend Owen Roe (a historical figure). He fears he may not return; thus, he wants this last meeting with Maureen, wants to hear her accent, etc.The Departure:
They embrace, exchange words of love, and McKenna rides off at dusk as the sun sets, passing through hills and woods on the way to join his comrades.The Battle:
McKenna fights alongside O’Neill’s forces at the Battle of Benburb. They succeed, pushing back the English forces (the “Saxon horde”). The victory is celebrated, and the enemy banner is brought down.Reunion & Marriage:
In the autumn, after the battle and passing of time, McKenna returns. He and Maureen are married in Glaslough Church. The song ends on a joyful note: love has endured, the hero has returned, and the union is celebrated.
🌲 Imagery & Mood
The song uses richly descriptive and romantic imagery to set both an emotional and physical landscape.
1. Natural Imagery
“Shady Woods of Truagh”, “hill and hollow”, “dewy meadows green”
→ These phrases evoke an almost dreamlike Irish countryside. Nature becomes a backdrop to McKenna’s emotions — beautiful, serene, but also tinged with impending loss as he must leave.The ride through woods at twilight also symbolizes his emotional journey — moving from peace (love) into danger (war).
2. Romantic Imagery
Maureen is described with “dark eyes”, her voice is compared to “a thrush’s song”, and her kiss is like “honeycomb”.
→ These tender comparisons elevate Maureen into a symbol of purity, beauty, and homeland — something worth fighting for.
3. Martial Imagery
The battle is depicted with “O’Neill’s brigade”, “swords and shields”, and “Saxon horde”.
→ There’s a clear contrast between the soft, gentle imagery of love and the hard, aggressive imagery of war. It underscores the sacrifice McKenna is making.
Mood Shifts
Opening mood: Gentle, romantic, nostalgic
Middle (departure and battle): Somber, brave, determined
Ending: Joyful, victorious, celebratory
The mood evolves with McKenna’s personal journey: from love, to separation, to return — mirroring a classic hero’s arc.
⚔️ Historical Background: The Battle of Benburb (1646)
This song doesn’t just tell a personal love story — it’s also rooted in 17th-century Irish history:
Owen Roe O’Neill
An Irish general and leader of the Ulster army of the Irish Confederate Catholics during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
A respected tactician and national figure.
Battle of Benburb (June 1646)
Fought between Owen Roe O’Neill’s Confederate Irish forces and a Scottish Covenanter army led by General Monro.
O’Neill decisively defeated the Scottish/English forces — a rare and important victory for the Irish at the time.
Why It Matters in the Song
McKenna fights for O’Neill and the Irish cause — showing loyalty not only to love, but to homeland and heritage.
The return after victory and marriage to Maureen signals hope for a better future, not just personally, but politically. Love and country are intertwined.
🎠Final Thoughts: Layers of Meaning
On the surface: A romantic ballad of love, separation, and joyful reunion.
Below the surface: A patriotic ode to Irish resilience, identity, and sacrifice.
It fits well within the Irish ballad tradition — blending historical memory with emotional truth, wrapped in poetic language and melody.
If you find any issues here please comment and I will correct it.
