Artist: Margaret Barry
Author: Percy French
Label: Rounder
Year: 1953

Lomax recording in London. Percy French wrote this song in 1912, about a real Paddy Reilly who used to drive him around with his cart to wherever he wanted to go. Reilly was the local taxi driver if you like, so everybody knew him and soon everybody in Ballyjamesduff knew this song! The only one who didn't like it was the emigrating subject of the song, who eventually returned to his hometown, thereby swearing this song had nothing to do with his decision.

Not to be confused with the Paddy Reilly who in 1996 took over from Ronnie Drew in The Dubliners. No wonder this Paddy Reilly recorded his own version of Ballyjamesduff on his solo cd... Come Back Paddy Reilly ('95).