Browse Items (38 total)

Location: Carlow town
Sean McCarthy (Shanagolden) wrote this after a sojourn in Carlow. It tells the sad love story of a widow with young son whose father died in the fight for freedom.
The second text is Sean's own telling of the context for his…

Location: Carlow west
Seamus remembers life as a collier and some sights of Rossmore, before having to emigrate when the works closed

There’s many a place in Ireland of fame and great renown
And there’s one of them so dear to me quite near…

Location: Carlow east
Willie adopts the persona of the emigrant wistfully remembering his home place
The melody was matched to the poem by Fiach.

In winter dawn in years long gone
Our forefathers adored the sun,
Druids offered gifts to golden Fionn
So crops might grow and male babes come.

Then Patrick came and changed our ways;
Replaced the gods of older days.
He fanned a fire up high…

The song is one of those gems of the Oral Tradition that narrates in ballad form an actual event that is generally missed in the larger historical picture.

LIFE

Farewell to the days of our youth, now long gone bye,
The red sap that pulsed through young limbs now sere and dry;
The hot pulse that throbbed in wild heart and fiery limbs,
Now chilled and faded in time as memory dims.

Lonely and…

You grew and built your business through long, hard working days:
The bankers came and broke it, then they stole it all away.
You cannot trust the bankers, their only god is greed
And they hide behind their agents who do their dirty…

MOTHER

The bright wind of Springtime brings you to my mind,

Filled with fine promise, all gentle and kind;

Fountain of hope and my bright, guiding star,

Still guiding my life choice from Heaven afar.


The soft breeze of Summer…