FolkWorld #64: Mick “Citern” Walsh

Twenty One Steps (The Butterslip Kilkenny)

If you come from a place that's not very old
And you want to walk back in time,
There's twenty one steps in this little walk way,
Till you get to the other side
With its arched entry and stony steps,
A narrow and dark walkway,
It was built way back in the 1600's
And has survived the daybreaks.

The Butterslip stalls in those days,
Lined the lane to sell their wares,
It's been a shopping street for hundreds of years,
And dreams of times gone by,
I have seen the buskers standing there,
Playing their songs for all to hear.
I will always remember Mick Watson,
Playing songs and other great airs.

Some lovers would have sat on those steps,
In those days gone by,
Wrapped themselves in each others arms,
To stay together till the end of time.
A young hurler hit a ball one morning,
On his way to Nowlan Park
It landed on the Fourteenth step,
And it rolled back down,
Then he hit it again.

Some shops have come and served their time
Selling gifts, books and wine,
A restaurant or two will welcome you,
On the Butterslip if you wish to view,
You may visit Greece or Edinburgh,
Or spend some time in Budapest,
Always remember the Marble City,
And the time you walked the Butterslip.


Listen to Twenty One Steps
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In 1989, Mick “Citern” Walsh came to Kilkenny City where he joined the Monday night session at John Cleere's pub. In 2014, he decided to write songs about his adopted home, such as the Slips, Kilkenny's narrow lanes.

Says Mick: »In mid 2014 I started on the idea that I would write songs about issues and interests in my area. Other ideas also came into my head and I wrote them in verse as well. Eight of the songs I recorded with the help of others and the end product was a twelve track album. I am dedicating this album to some musician friends who have passed on in the last few years, including Pat Murray, Paddy Cummins, Johnny Byrne, Mick Watson and others whose names escapes me now. I would like to thank John Cleere’s pub (Kilkenny) for having me to play music every Monday night for nearly twenty five years, also Jimmy, Gerry and many others who contribute to the great nights there...«

Twenty-One Steps