Work has been getting in the way of a lot of things lately, especially fishing. I decided to sneak away last Saturday afternoon and wet a line. My wife had plans for us in the evening so I said I’d be home by 4:30. It’s been cold and we’ve had some snow in the mountains. I wasn’t sure what I’d find at the lake, but I took some warm clothes and a couple rods and went to see. There was no snow on the trail to the water or on the shore on the north side of the lake. I picked a spot and started fishing. It was fairly warm, probably 40 degrees, mostly sunny, and just a slight breeze. I tried some different lures, with no bite for a while. I decided to try the old standard night crawler and finally got a really light nibble and caught a small rainbow trout. I fished for quite a while longer with no luck. I decided to leave and head to Sportsmans Warehouse to pick up some ice fishing tackle. I was all packed up and reeled in my line to leave when I realized the wind had stopped, the lake was glass, and there was starting to be some shadows on the water. I looked out and said to myself that in the summer if I was to cast right along the shadow line I’d catch a fish. I casted out an seconds later a fish hit my worm really hard. It fought hard enough I wasn’t sure what it was until I got it close. Turned out to be a pretty nice rainbow. I decided to keep it for dinner and said if there was one there, there had to be more. Turned out I didn’t get anything else, but it was too nice to leave right away. Needless to say I got home a couple hours late. I really needed that fish therapy. It had been way too long since I’d been out.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful Irish ballad with me. It is called The Bard of Armagh and is often attributed to Patrick Donnelly, who was made Bishop of Dromore in 1697. The song in English dates back to the mid-19th century and was printed as a broadside ballad in Dublin. The same melody is used in the songs Príosún Chluain Meala - (The Jail of Clonmel), The Sailor Cut Down in his Prime and The Streets of Laredo.

The song is about Phelim Brady, a poor Irish harper who reminisces about his youth and his dear native land. He longs to muse on the days of his boyhood, but he is now an old man. The song ends with him asking to be laid to rest by the side of his young wife, Kathleen.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Oh list to the lay of a poor Irish harper And scorn not the strains of his old, withered hands But remember his fingers, they once could move sharper To raise up the memory of his dear native land At a fair or a wake, I could twist my shillelagh Or trip through a jig with my brogues bound with straw And all the pretty colleens around me assembled Loved their bold Phelim Brady, the bard of Armagh Oh, how I long to muse on the days of my boyhood But four score and three years have flitted since then But they bring sweet reflections, as every young joy should For, the merry hearted boys makes the best of old men And when sergeant death, in his cold arms shall embrace me And lull me to sleep with sweet Erin go bragh By the side of my Kathleen, my young wife then place me Then forget Phelim Brady, the bard of Armagh. I believe you can even find this song recorded on Google.

I don't know if you have ever looked into the Streets of Laredo, but there are some versions that have around 100 different verses. I suppose different writers or musicians felt it needed more.

I hope this information helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Initially Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev, MD on September 14, 2022
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
• Health Benefits
• Nutrition
• How to Add Pecans to Your Diet
3 min read
The pecan is a nut from a species of hickory trees native to northern Mexico and the Southern United States. The nut is a nutrition powerhouse loaded with vitamins and minerals.
What’s more, raw pecans are even cholesterol-free, sodium-free, and low in carbohydrates. With their rich, buttery flavor and natural sweetness, they make a tasty and satisfying snack.

Health Benefits
Raw pecans pack a 1-2-3 punch of protein, healthy fats, and fiber that can help keep you energized and satisfied.

Heart Health
Pecans are a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which help lower blood pressure.
Most of the fat found in pecans is a healthy type called monounsaturated fat. Eating foods with monounsaturated fat instead of foods high in saturated fats (like potato chips) can help lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol. Keeping your LDL cholesterol low cuts down your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

Diabetes Management
Studies have shown that nuts can help prevent heart disease in people with diabetes. Snacking on an ounce of nuts when hungry helps you feel full, making it easier to avoid high-carb foods and keep blood sugars in check.
Pecans have a very low glycemic index, which means that eating them does not cause a spike in blood sugar, even in people with diabetes. Eating pecans can even offset the effects of higher glycemic index foods when eaten as part of the same meal.

Arthritis Relief
Pecans also contain Omega-3 fats, which can help ease the pain of arthritis by reducing inflammation. The magnesium, calcium, fiber, vitamin E, and zinc in pecans also give the nuts anti-inflammatory properties.

Disease Prevention
Vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc, which are all found in pecans, support your immune system so that your body can fight off infections and repair damage. Pecans also provide folate, which can guard against changes to your DNA that might otherwise lead to cancer.

Antioxidants can help protect the body from the cell damage that causes Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cancers. The USDA has ranked over 100 foods by antioxidant levels, and pecans made the top 20.

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Nutrition
Pecans are rich in many vitamins and minerals important for healthy skin, eyes, teeth, bones, muscles, and nerves.
• Vitamin A
• Folate
• Niacin
• Riboflavin
• Thiamine
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin E
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Phosphorus
• Zinc
Nutrients per Serving
One ounce of raw pecans has:
• Calories: 196
• Protein: 3 grams
• Fat: 20 grams
• Carbohydrates: 4 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Sugar: 1 gram
Portion Sizes and Processing
Pecans are a great source of healthy fats but are high in calories, so it is important to watch your portion sizes. A serving of pecans is 1 ounce, which is a little less than ¼ cup or 19 pecan halves.
Roasted pecans sold as prepackaged snacks are often coated in unhealthy oils and sugar, adding empty calories. Be sure to read labels and choose raw pecans when possible.
How to Add Pecans to Your Diet
When you find yourself craving a crunchy snack, reach for a handful of pecans instead of potato chips. Prep several snack-size baggies with 19 pecan halves apiece so they are ready to go the next time you are hungry. Keep one in your backpack or purse for a healthy snack on the go.

Pecans are naturally sweet and make a good replacement for candies when sugar cravings hit. Sub raw pecan pieces in for chocolate chips, mixing them into pancake, muffin, or cookie dough. Add some crunch and protein to salads, oatmeal, quinoa, or yogurt by topping them with pecans. Just Sayin…RJS