The Westmeath Bachelor Lyrics
Joe DolanMusic Video
The Westmeath Bachelor
Sure I am a Westmeath bachelor, and me age is 63,
I don't intend to marry, or to raise a family.
Sure I'm happy and contented just to live a single life.
And that's the reason why I don't intend to take a wife.
With the red stuff on her fingernails, and varnish on her toes,
The raddle on her old fizzhog and the whitewash on her nose
She can get a fancy barber to shave her neck her head
Well that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.
Last Thursday at the market in the town of Mullingar,
A friend he introduced me to a famous movie star,
She was married several times before to men of every creed
And she thought she had a sucker in the bachelor from Westmeath
With the red stuff on her fingernails, and varnish on her toes,
The raddle on her old fizzhog and the whitewash on her nose
She can get a fancy barber to shave her neck her head
Well that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.
Now I'm living with me brother, and his little cat and dog,
I'm earnin' seven and six a week, a-workin' on the bog,
Why should I change this life of ease, for one of struggle and strife,
And that's the reason why I don't intend to take a wife.
With the red stuff on her fingernails, and varnish on her toes,
The raddle on her old fizzhog and the whitewash on her nose
She can get a fancy barber to shave her neck her head
Well that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.
[Instrumental]
Now I'm living with me brother, and his little cat and dog,
I'm earnin' seven and six a week, a-workin' on the bog,
Why should I change this life of ease, for one of struggle and strife,
And that's the reason why I don't intend to take a wife.
With the red stuff on her fingernails, and varnish on her toes,
The raddle on her old fizzhog and the whitewash on her nose
She can get a fancy barber to shave her neck her head
Well that's why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.
Thats why I'm a bachelor and I don't intend to wed.
Song Details
🎶 Songwriter: William Whelan from Castletown-Geoghegan in Co. Westmeath, Ireland.
Earlier, we thought that the author of the song was Bill Whelan with some discussion and uncertainty about its validity, but recently (Aug 4th 2022) I received an email - a huge thanks to Dan Mcloughlin for clearing up details about the author of the song. Here's what Dan wrote:
Hi Janice I am writing this email to you about the composer of the Westmeath Bachelor song. I know the composer of this song and it is not Bill Whelan as mentioned who was born in 1950 but it is another Whelan from Castletown-Geoghegan in Co. Westmeath, a brilliant traditional Irish musician and his name is William Whelan or as he was known by everyone who knew him as Billy. He died in 1989 and Foster and Allen as you mentioned would have known him. In his younger days he played the banjo with the Moate Ceili Band. I had the honour of knowing him as a child and he was one of life's true gentlemen.
Irish Radio News, 8.6.1933
Dan also sent me this photograph of the Moate Ceili Band where their profile described them as an Irish band from the town of Moate between Dublin and Athlone that had been broadcasting on the radio as early as 1932.
Members included Billy Donnelly, John Joe Gannon, Mick Kincaid, Paddy Gavin, Pepper Adamson, Willie Jordan, and Billy Whelan on the far right of the photograph.
There is an excellent article on the Westmeath Independent Website in relation to Billy Whelan's son Seamus, who sadly passed away after battling ill-health at St James’s Hospital, Dublin on Monday morning, 2nd Aug 2021... The late Séamus Ó Faoláin: Lake County mourns iconic GAA figure.
📝 Song Brief: A humorous story about a 63‑year‑old bachelor from Westmeath who has absolutely no intention of marrying — not now, not ever. He’s perfectly content with his quiet life, his brother’s cottage, and his modest earnings “a‑workin’ on the bog.”
Through witty verses and colourful descriptions, he explains exactly why he avoids the idea of a wife — from heavy makeup to glamorous pretensions — and recounts a hilarious encounter with a “famous movie star” who thinks she’s found an easy catch. His answer is always the same: he’s happy as he is.
📖 Glossary:- Westmeath — A county in the province of Leinster, located in Ireland’s Midlands Region. Known for its lakes, farmland, and strong musical tradition, it often appears in folk songs as a setting rich with rural character and humour.
- raddle — A type of heavy crimson makeup, once favoured by actresses and by women of certain professions. In comic songs, “raddle” is often used to exaggerate glamour or artificial beauty for humorous effect.
- fizzhog — A light‑hearted slang term meaning a person’s face or expression. In humorous storytelling, it’s typically used to poke fun at someone’s appearance in a playful, good‑natured way.
The following was sent to me by Larry Pope with and explanation relating to the term, "a-workin' on the bog". Many thanks to Larry for shedding light on the matter.
In this song reference is made to "a-workin' on the bog" which refers to being engaged in the cutting and drying of peat, generally referred to as "turf" in Ireland, by hand, (as I have done so) or machine, to be used as a fuel for the fireplace or range (and wonderful sight, smell and gentle warmth it does produce).
🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: Foster & Allen, Nathan Carter, The Sean O'Neill Band, Hugo Duncan, The Monday Men, Sibin, Breege Kelly Sound, Barnbrack, Johnny Carroll, Malachy Doris, Gary Gamble, Sean Wilson.
🎤 Featured Artist - Joe Dolan: Born Joseph Francis Robert Dolan on 16th Oct, 1939 in Mullingar, Ireland. He was an Irish entertainer, recording artist, and pop singer. He was given the nickname of "The Roaring Hyena" because of his high singing voice. He was active from 1958 - 2007 and his music styles included pop, rock and country. He died on Dec 26, 2007 after a long bout of ill health finally succumbing to a massive intra-cerebral haemorrhage.
💿 Album The Best Of Joe Dolan
Released: 1997
Country: UK
Format: 2xCD, Compilation, Remastered
Label: Castle Pulse
