The Town I Loved So Well - Paddy Reilly

Paddy singing at Opera House in Cork.

(written by Phil Coulter)

In my memory I will always see
the town that I have loved so well
where our schools played ball
by the gas yard wall
and we laughed through
the smoke and the smell,
Going home in the rain,
running up the dark lane,
past the gaol (jail) and down
behind the fountain,
those were happy days
in so many, many ways
in the town I loved so well.

In the early morning,
the shirt factory horn
called women from Creggan,
the moor and the bog
while their men on the dole
played a mother's role
fed the children and
then walked the dog.
And when times got rough,
there was just about enough
but they saw it through
without complaining,
for deep inside was a burning pride
in the town I loved so well

But when I returned how
my eyes where burned
to see how a town
could be brought to its knees
by the armoured cars
and the bombed out bars
and the gas that hangs
on to every breeze
Now the army's installed
by that old gas yard wall
and the damned barbed wire
gets higher and higher,
with their tanks and guns
oh my God what have they done
to the town I loved so well.

Now the music's gone
but they carry on
for their spirit's been bruised,
never broken
though they'll not forget
still their hearts are set
on tomorrow and peace once again.
For what's done is done
and what's won is won
and what's lost is lost
and gone forever
I can only pray for a bright,
brand new day
in the town I loved so well.

[RichardJohnson-mv]

He is still alive at today 6th Sept 2023 he's 83 yrs old and recently sang in an Irish pub field's of Athenry after the funeral of songs writer Ian St John. He can still bash a song out today. He's my favourite singer of all time and I listen to him ever day.

[wormwood]

This was the very first song my grandmother taught me to play on the organ as a young boy. I have finally returned to the town I loved so well. I sit here as an old man, playing along on my guitar with tears in my eyes.

[timothysingleton]

Oh my god what have they done??? Still hits hard in 2025.

[stephenmcconville]

this was my das funeral song! this tune made the funeral perfect and made me pround be be his R.I.P

[colettekeely]

I have listened to this song for about 30+ years now and no-one sings it like Paddy Reilly - what a voice, makes me cry every time x

[seanharkin]

Around 40 years ago, not long out my teens, I went to Glasgow to see the Dubliners, who I'd heard of supported by Paddy Reilly (never heard of him, but the poster helpfully put in brackets "Town I loved so well" I knew that song) Sorry Dubliners, you were rotten telling people NOT to sing along, NOT to Shout requests. On popped Paddy, one man on stage and he had a very large Audience in the palm of his hand, sang this song, we couldn't sing for the tears, it was so beautiful. Someone shouted a song he'd say "just for you" mattered not a damm if that was going to be the next song anyway, Dubliners came on for encore Crowd chanted "bring on Paddy!" Fantastic!

[Cora]

I lived in Brooklyn in 1994 and a Greek guy used to sing this note perfect. I met him in the knights of Columbus

[nepouretrelibre]

This song is fantastic, thank you very much mister Paddy Reilly... from Algéria, i am Kabylo-Canadien. i'am to be free!!

[ChrisHorner_WCC]

Paddy's version of this song remains unmatched to this day.

[oliverwhite]

Paddy Reilly is the only one who sings this perfectly 👌

[mmckw]

Perhaps this is the definition of the word "beautiful"

[johnmullin]

What you never heard Kelly sing this beautiful song it was his God bless you 😊

[m.vincentmcbride]

Always brings a tear to my eye, my dad used to sing this to me as a child - roots where would we be without them!

[JustinmaddenLFC]

The greatest Irish singer of all time Paddy Reilly ☘️🇮🇪

[martingodfrey]

What a voice, so pleased to have come across Paddy.. May he be blessed with a long and happy life.

[doreiseanderson]

I have always loved this song since I was a child in Ireland. My uncle Eamon would sing this . Love you Eamon

[dennisoconnor]

God I’m
Happy I’m
Irish! Erin Go Bragh!!

[TheKevinxmx]

i sang it on the streets of germany for 7 years back in the 90s, ah what a mad time, Best aduinece

[richardyanco]

Saw and listened to Paddy many times at the Beachcomber in Wollaston (Quincy) Mass.
Also in Melrose, Mass. Always Terrific. He insisted on quiet as he was prone to get "lost" remembering the lyrics.

[rayferg]

I never get tired of this song! I listened to it three time today already--Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew and Paddy Reilly versions!