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Kilkelly Ireland lyrics

Rowena Taheny

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John
Good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara's so good
As to write these words down.
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England,
The house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected,
A third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell
Are going to be married in June.
Your mother says not to work on the railroad
And be sure to come on home soon.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, dear and loving son John
Hello to your Mrs and to your 4 children,
May they grow to be healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,
I guess that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
And now we have nothing to burn.
And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her
And now she's got six of her own.
You say you found work, but you won't say what kind
Or when you will be coming home.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
That your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,
Your brothers and Brigid were there.
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly,
Remember her in your prayers.
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning,
With money he's sure to buy land
For the crop has been poor and people are selling
At any price that they can.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John
I guess that I might be close on to eighty,
It's thirty years since you're gone.
Because of all of the money you send me,
I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house
And Brigid's daughters have grown.
Thank you for sending your family picture,
They're lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit,
What a joy to see you again.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John
I'm sorry that I didn't write any sooner to tell you that father passed on.
He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful
And healthy right down to the end.
Ah, you should have seen him play
With the grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend.
And we buried him alongside our dear old mother,
Down at the Kilkelly churchyard.
Oh he was a strong and a feisty old man,
Considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
He called for you in the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
We'd all love to see you again.

Song Details

Kilkelly Ireland
Kilkelly, Ireland

Writers: Steven and Peter Jones

Brief: The song is about the story of John, an Irish emigrant to America and a series of letters written to him by his father back in Kilkelly keeping him informed about his family. Sadly, the last verse is sent by his brother as his father had passed away. The song contains five verses which cover the period between 1860 and 1892.

References:
18 and 60 - refers to 1860 etc.
Kilkelly - a village in Kilmovee parish County Mayo, Ireland.

Category: Irish Folk Song

Covers: Robbie O'Connell, Mick Moloney, Seán Keane, Anne Feeney, Cast, Colcannon, Kevin McKrell, Atwater-Donnelly, Asher Quinn, The Dubliners, Ciara Considine, Jim Brannigan, Empty Hats, Tom Sweeney...

Album: Irish Roses (Jan 01, 2016)

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