Christmas Time In Ireland Lyrics
Written by Patsy Farrell. Recorded by Foster And Allen. Lenamore is in Co. Longford. The song was also recorded by Brendan Shine. It's a beautiful song about Christmas time in Ireland in days of old. Sheet music included.
Christmas time in Ireland, in the days when I was young
When we gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were sung
To hear my dear old mother tell of bygone days of your
And the way that she spent Christmas, in dear old Lenamore.
Christmas time was different in the days of yester-year
With candles in the windows, and the bells rang loud and clear.
All the family gathered, they came from far and wide.
To be all together for a joyous Christmas time
Holly 'round the pictures, red with berries bright
Decorations flutter, they make a pritty sight.
Peeping through the windows, the world is white with snow
And the friendly birds are calling, and the widgens they fly low.
Christmas time in Ireland, in the days when I was young
When we gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were sung
To hear my dear old mother tell of bygone days of your
And the way that she spent Christmas, in dear old Lenamore.
It's well I do remember, the nights of Christmas Eve
As we watched the bright stars in the sky, my stocking I would leave
Hanging from the bed-sted, my heart is full of glee
Hoping that dear Santa Claus will please remember me.
And when on Christmas morning, as dinner time grew near,
The smell of turkey cooking, current cake and beer
Happy happy Christmas, let us all be glad.
That we have cherished memories, of Christmas's we had.
Christmas time in Ireland, in the days when I was young
When we gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were sung
To hear my dear old mother tell of bygone days of your
And the way that she spent Christmas, in dear old Lenamore.
The guitar chords as used by Foster and Allen are in the key of C Major.
[C]Christmas time in [F]Ireland, in the days when [D]I was [C]young
When we [G]gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were [C]sung
To hear my dear old [F]mother tell of bygone days of [C]your
And the [G]way that [D]she spent [G]Christmas, in [F]dear old [G]Lena[C]more.
[C]Christmas time was [F]different in the days of yester-[C]year,[G]
With [D]candles in [G]the windows, and the bells [D]rang loud and [C]clear.
All the family [F]gathered, they came from far and [C]wide.
To [G]be all together for a [D]joyous [G]Christmas [C]time
Here's the guitar chords in G Major
[G]Christmas time in [C]Ireland, in the days when [A]I was [G]young
When we [D]gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were [G]sung
To hear my dear old [C]mother tell of bygone days of [G]your
And the [D]way that [A]she spent [D]Christmas, in [C]dear old [D]Lena[G]more.
[G]Christmas time was [C]different in the days of yester-[G]year,[D]
With [A]candles in [D]the windows, and the bells [A]rang loud and [G]clear.
All the family [C]gathered, they came from far and [G]wide.
To [D]be all together for a [A] joyous [D]Christmas [G]time
[C]Christmas time in [F]Ireland, in the days when [D]I was [C]young
When we [G]gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were [C]sung
To hear my dear old [F]mother tell of bygone days of [C]your
And the [G]way that [D]she spent [G]Christmas, in [F]dear old [G]Lena[C]more.
[C]Christmas time was [F]different in the days of yester-[C]year,[G]
With [D]candles in [G]the windows, and the bells [D]rang loud and [C]clear.
All the family [F]gathered, they came from far and [C]wide.
To [G]be all together for a [D]joyous [G]Christmas [C]time
Here's the guitar chords in G Major
[G]Christmas time in [C]Ireland, in the days when [A]I was [G]young
When we [D]gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were [G]sung
To hear my dear old [C]mother tell of bygone days of [G]your
And the [D]way that [A]she spent [D]Christmas, in [C]dear old [D]Lena[G]more.
[G]Christmas time was [C]different in the days of yester-[G]year,[D]
With [A]candles in [D]the windows, and the bells [A]rang loud and [G]clear.
All the family [C]gathered, they came from far and [G]wide.
To [D]be all together for a [A] joyous [D]Christmas [G]time
Christmas Time In Ireland Sheet Music
🎼 Key: G Major
Time signature: 3/4 (waltz)
Tempo: ~65–70 BPM (slow and lilting)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Irish/Country Waltz)
Count: “ONE – two – three, ONE – two – three”
Soft and swaying, like a slow dance.
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
1 2& 3&
Beat 1: Downstroke on bass string (stronger accent)
Beats 2–3: Light down-up on middle/treble strings
Keep your right hand relaxed — this song should flow, not pulse.
Optional alternating bass for more movement:
G → 6th → 4th string
C → 5th → 4th string
D → 4th → 3rd string
A → 5th → 4th string
This gives the “boom–chick–chick” rhythm you hear in Irish waltzes.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a gentle rolling pattern:
Thumb (p) → Index (i) → Middle (m) → repeat
(Bass → G string → B string)
Each bar = 3 beats, one roll per measure.
🎶 Verse 1 Fingerpicking Tab
G C A7 G
e|--------3-------------3-------|--------0-------------0-------|--------0-------------0-------|--------3-------------3-------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----|------1---1---------1---1-----|------2---2---------2---2-----|------0---0---------0---0-----|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|----------------2--------------|3------------------------------|0------------------------------|----------------2--------------|
E|-3------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
Christmas time in Ireland, in the days when I was young
D G C G
e|--------2-------------2-------|--------3-------------3-------|--------0-------------0-------|--------3-------------3-------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----|------0---0---------0---0-----|------1---1---------1---1-----|------0---0---------0---0-----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--0-----------0---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|----------------0--------------|----------------2--------------|3------------------------------|----------------2--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-3------------------------------|-------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
When we gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were sung
🎶 Verse 2 Fingerpicking Tab
Time signature: 3/4 (waltz)
Tempo: ~65–70 BPM (slow and lilting)
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Irish/Country Waltz)
Count: “ONE – two – three, ONE – two – three”
Soft and swaying, like a slow dance.
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
1 2& 3&
Beat 1: Downstroke on bass string (stronger accent)
Beats 2–3: Light down-up on middle/treble strings
Keep your right hand relaxed — this song should flow, not pulse.
Optional alternating bass for more movement:
G → 6th → 4th string
C → 5th → 4th string
D → 4th → 3rd string
A → 5th → 4th string
This gives the “boom–chick–chick” rhythm you hear in Irish waltzes.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (for All Verses)
Use a gentle rolling pattern:
Thumb (p) → Index (i) → Middle (m) → repeat
(Bass → G string → B string)
Each bar = 3 beats, one roll per measure.
🎶 Verse 1 Fingerpicking Tab
G C A7 G
e|--------3-------------3-------|--------0-------------0-------|--------0-------------0-------|--------3-------------3-------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----|------1---1---------1---1-----|------2---2---------2---2-----|------0---0---------0---0-----|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|----------------2--------------|3------------------------------|0------------------------------|----------------2--------------|
E|-3------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
Christmas time in Ireland, in the days when I was young
D G C G
e|--------2-------------2-------|--------3-------------3-------|--------0-------------0-------|--------3-------------3-------|
B|------3---3---------3---3-----|------0---0---------0---0-----|------1---1---------1---1-----|------0---0---------0---0-----|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--0-----------0---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|----------------0--------------|----------------2--------------|3------------------------------|----------------2--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-3------------------------------|-------------------------------|-3------------------------------|
When we gathered 'round the fire, and the old songs they were sung
🎶 Verse 2 Fingerpicking Tab
