Master McGrath

1869 being the date and the year
Those Waterloo sportsmen and more did appear
Oh, to view the great prizes and bear them awa'
Never counting on Ireland and Master McGrath

On the twelfth of December, that day of renown
McGrath and his keeper, they left Lurgan town
And a gale in the channel, it soon drove them o'er
On the thirteenth they landed on fair England's shore

And when they arrived there in great London town
Those grand English sportsmen, they all gathered round
And one of those gentlemen gave a "ha-ha"
Saying, "is that the great dog you call Master McGrath?"

Lord Lurgan stepped forward and he said, "gentlemen
Is there any among you has money to spend?
For your great English greyhound I don't care straw
Five-thousand to one upon Master McGrath."

White Rose stood uncovered, the great English pride
Her trainer and owner were both by her side
Oh, they let her away and the crowd cried "hurrah"
For the pride of all England and Master McGrath

As Rose and the Master, they both ran along
"I wonder," says Rose, "what took you from your home
You should've stayed there in your Irish domain
And not come to gain laurels on Albion's plain."

"Well, I know," says McGrath, "we have wild heather bogs
But you'll find in old Ireland we have good men and dogs
Lead on, bold Britannia, give none of your jaw
For I'll garnish your laurels," says Master McGrath

Oh, the hare, she led off, what a beautiful view
As swift as the wind o'er the green fields she flew
He jumped on the hare's back and he held up his paw
"Three cheers for old Ireland," says Master McGrath

I've known many greyhounds that filled me with pride
In the days that are gone, but it can't be denied
That the greatest and the bravest the world ever saw
Was our champion of champions called Master McGrath