"32 Counties" is a 1999 novelty single by Irish puppet character Dustin the Turkey.
Lyrics
The title features John Morrison, in character as Dustin the Turkey of The Den, singing a song about the 32 counties of Ireland and notable features and traditions found in each. Some counties are mentioned in a derogatory context, intended to be satirical/insulting; these are marked with (†) below.
County Feature Antrim Giant's Causeway Armagh Armagh Planetarium Carlow Carlow Courthouse Cavan "potholes the size of lakes" (†) Clare "The Banner flies" Cork Blarney Stone Donegal Fishing industry Down Mourne Mountains Dublin Dublin City Fermanagh Marble Arch Caves Galway "salty hills", a reference to Salthill Kerry Lakes of Killarney Kildare The Curragh Kilkenny Kilkenny cats Laois "Laois is a prison" (Portlaoise Prison, Midlands Prison) (†) Leitrim "Leitrim's a mistake" (†) Limerick "Limerick You're A Lady" Londonderry (referred to as Derry) Derry city walls Longford Longford Slashers Louth Oliver Plunkett's head (Drogheda) Mayo Croagh Patrick Meath Tara Brooch Monaghan "grey soil", a reference to a Patrick Kavanagh poem Offaly "Faithful Offaly" Roscommon Douglas Hyde Sligo William Butler Yeats Tipperary Rock of Cashel Tyrone Ulster American Folk Park Waterford Waterford Crystal Westmeath "Westmeath has a bypass" (N6 road) (†) Wexford Strawberry production Wicklow Gardens
Release The single was sold to raise funds for the National Children's Hospital.
The song reached #1 in Ireland in November 1999.
Dave McEvoy wrote of it, "If you ask me, Dustin the Turkey should be our real cultural icon. He taught generations of kids what it meant to be Irish. Discredit authority, make fun of people from other counties, begrudge other people’s success, sing loudly even if you can’t and by no means praise anyone in government."
See also List of number-one singles of 1999 (Ireland)
References