Green Hills of Rossmore
Author: Seamus Dunne
Singer: Seamus Dunne
Second singer: Fiach Moriarty

Green Hills of Rossmore
Author: Seamus Dunne
Singer: Seamus Dunne
Second singer: Fiach Moriarty

Theme: Pride in place and the end of the colliery

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 to Carlow town.
I’ll love this place forever, it is part of all my core,
It’s the place where I was born and reared on the green hills of Rossmore.

On looking down from these high hills, fine sights there can be seen,
With the Barrow flowing gently among the fields of green;
The Wicklow hills in the distance and Mount Leinster to the fore:
It’s no wonder that my heart did break on leaving sweet Rossmore.

When young I worked in Rossmore mine, I worked there every day
With a pick and shovel colliering the coal, that’s how I earned my pay.
The work was hard and conditions bad, and my bones were oft times sore
But I’ll never forget the friends I made while working in Rossmore.

Then things go bad and the mines closed down, they said there was no coal,
With nothing left for the miners but to sign upon the dole;
So I packed my bags to emigrate like many’s the man before
And I said goodbye to Carlow town and the Green Hills of Rossmore.

Now I’m over here for many’s the year in this great English town,
But the place that I would like to be is high over Carlow town;
And if ever I return again to stand on my father’s floor
I’ll never more be parted from the Green Hills of Rossmore.

And if ever I return again to stand on my father’s floor
I’ll never more be parted from the Green Hills of Rossmore.