Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Ballads and songs of Ayrshire > Volume 2

THE WARLOCK LAIRD OF FAIL.
Abbot for the time being is correctly enough introduced as officiating
at the baptism of " Sir Ewart's young heir." Dunure Castle is still
a prominent feature in the scenery of Dunure. It occupies a rocky
eminence which bounds the village on the west. It is now a total
ruin — the north wall, towards the sea, being alone in some measure
entire. It appears to have consisted originally of one irregular tower
of four stories, besides the ground floor, or keep. The form of the
building, which presents various angles, seems to have been dictated
entirely by the shape of the rock — ^the precipitousness of which, lash-
ed by the sea, formed a complete barrier against any assault in that
direction — while a deep moat and strong wall gave protection on the
land side. A range of buildings, running back towards the south, is
apparently of later erection. The main entrance must have been by
the eastern fi'ont, where the doorway, with openings into the vaulted
apartments on the ground floor, as well as the stair leading to the
upper rooms, are still traceable. The walls ai-e extremely thick — in
some instances upwards of fifteen feet — and so firmly cemented that
portions of them that have fallen down ai*e scarcely distinguishable
from the masses of solid rock which, upheaved by some mighty con-
vulsion of natui-e, lie scattered about like the guardian genii of the
venerable stronghold. Of the erection of the Castle there is no re-
cord. The name is Celtic, Dunure, or Dunoure, signifying the hill,
or fort of the yew tree. According to the author of the " Historie of
the Kennedyis," the fort was originally possessed by the Danes.
'^fit aeSarlocfe Hairtr of Jpai'I.
As Craigie's Knight was a hunting one day,
Along with the Laird of Fail,
They came to a house, where the gudewife she
Was brewing the shearers' ale.
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