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The introduction of the five ballads begins with a story of Sir John Piers. It is about a highly respected, wealthy man who is part of an honourable social group. He is also a friend to the Lord and Lady Cloncurry. On the other hand there is another side of Piers which later leads him to his distress. He makes a bet that he can separate the Lord and Lady Cloncurry apart despite their strong relationship and attempts to do this by sleeping with Lady Cloncurry. Once he achieves this chore, a sum of money would be placed in the possession of Sir Piers. Well the tables turn when then plan is ruined and the situation turns against him, resulting in a court request of £100,000 pay out in damages. He life turns upside down, ruined and moves to the Isle of Man to avoid his problem, but finds himself going ridiculously crazy. This shows an effective use of the ballad form as the story is quite emotional, the mood is astonishing and tragic at the end. .
The five poems follow the form of a traditional ballad and they are in chronological order, from the beginning of the plan up to the destruction of Sir John Piers, and eventually to the area of Tristernagh at present.
The story begins as a garden party, or 'The Fete Champetre' is taking place, ' on the shores of "Lough Ennel". This is a river in Westmeath , a county in Ireland, in which the majority of the ballad is set. .
Betjeman uses the first few stanzas of this poem to set the mood and scene for the events to come.
" But sweeter and gayer than either of these.
where the songs of the birds in Lord Belvedere's tree.".
Betjeman describes the atmosphere in a very positive manner which fits the ballad form completely as it gives a greater contrast with the tragic events to come. As in most of Betjeman's poetry, he creates a three dimensional picture by describing the sound, smell and feeling of the surroundings. .
The calm, picturesque scene Betjeman creates in these first stanzas is very important in relation to the other sections as well.