School: Clochar na Toirbhirte, Caisleán an Chomair (roll number 10835)

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1. The Miner Boy

   

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   I
   The widow's son to his work is gone,
   In the bowels of the earth you'll find him,
   Delving away where the sun ne'er shone,
   And heaping the coals behind him
   "Mother dear," the young man said,
   As he left his home that morning,
   "My heart feels like to a load of lead,"
   Oh, was it an angel's warning.

   II
   For hours he worked at his taks alone,
   When a crash, like a roar of thunder
   Deafened the sound of a human groan
   And cleared the rocks asunder,
   His comrades near rushed to the scene,
   And there in his blood was lying,
   The widow's son, who had left Cloneen,
   In the morning light, now dying.

   III
   The bore him out and heaved him up,
   With tears in their sad eyes burning,
   Thinking how deep was the bitter cup,
   For the mother on his returning,
   The summer sun shone on his face,
   As the priest his sins had shriven,

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Brigid O' Neill

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny

   Informant

   Mrs Patrick O' Neill

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny