| "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 | ||||
| ||||
"Where The 3 Counties Meet" (also written "Where The Three Counties Meet") is a 1973 Irish traditional song by Brendan Shine.
Lyrics
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. 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.
Song history
"Where The 3 Counties Meet" was written by Patsy Farrell (1929–2002) of Rathowen.
"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. Spotlight magazine named it Record of the Year.
References
- 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.