# Irish place names in song don't make sense

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-place-names-in-song-dont-make-sense/998119>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** music\
**Created:** [February 26, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-place-names-in-song-dont-make-sense/998119 "2024-02-26T19:54:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-place-names-in-song-dont-make-sense/998119/1 "2024-02-26T19:54:52Z")

</div>

The song is “The First Love in Life.” One line mentions Londonderry or something about Derry, another names a town that sounds like Mahocca. Details:

The song was recorded by the Irish Rovers and listed an arranger but not a songwriter. This suggests to me it could be traditional, but so far I haven’t found any references to it besides said Irish Rovers. Hear it here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLW81O1m4us](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLW81O1m4us)

The second line sounds like “Fer (For?) Londonderry is where I’ve begun.” I can’t make sense of the “fer” here. The lyrics online (here: [IRISH ROVERS - THE FIRST LOVE IN LIFE LYRICS](https://www.songlyrics.com/irish-rovers/the-first-love-in-life-lyrics/)) say “Ferlin in Derry” but that’s wrong on two counts: 1) there doesn’t seem to be any place (area, neighborhood, etc.) named Ferlin in Derry; 2) the first D in Londonderry is very clearly pronounced, and I can’t find anything like “Ferland in Derry” either. [Later in the song Derry is mentioned; it seems odd that the same voice would talk about both Londonderry and Derry.]

Another line talks about girls from “Mahocca (Mahacca?).” The lyrics referenced above have it as McCorville, but it no way, shape, or form does it sound like McCorville as sung.

So, is this just songwriters and/or singers taking the piss, or can someone make sense of the meaning behind what sounds like “fer Londonderry” and “Mahocca?”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-place-names-in-song-dont-make-sense/998119/2 "2024-02-26T20:16:10Z")

</div>

Sounds like McCorville to me. Note I think those names (McCorville, Carlisle, and Derry) are meant to be family names not places (they are the “good pure” families that the girls of Kildare have snuck away from to get up to no good with the singer, at least that’s how I understand the song).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-place-names-in-song-dont-make-sense/998119/3 "2024-02-26T20:51:20Z")

</div>

> [@griffin1977](#):
>
> Sounds like McCorville to me.

Makes sense, but sure seems different to my ears.

> [@griffin1977](#):
>
> Note I think those names (McCorville, Carlisle, and Derry) are meant to be family names not places (they are the “good pure” families that the girls of Kildare have snuck away from to get up to no good with the singer, at least that’s how I understand the song).

I can see that.