School: Aubane, Sráid an Mhuilinn (roll number 16163)

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1. Millstreet

   

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   (1) This poem is supposed to have been composed by a Travelling Shoemaker who was employed in Millstreet over 60 years ago. He seems to have come from Kerry and before he left Millstreet for the "States" He composed
   This poem

   I
   Farewell to Millstreet - that dear little town
   Of honour and beauty - of fame and renown
   Of pleasure and pastime and sweet unity
   Some distant fond objects will remind me of thee.
   II
   Farewell to the groves of sweet Coomlegane
   And the pond and the Castle to the East of Drishane
   And charming Mount Leader with its murmuring rills
   And the tapering trees that grow tall on its hills
   III
   Farewell to Kilmeedy - that romantic place
   That stands so attractive to the traveller's gaze
   Its gigantic walls that were built days of yore.
   By that famed Irish chieftain named McCarthy Mór.
   (4)
   Oft through each valley and cool summer shade
   Between Clara and Mount Leader - I often times strayed
   On the banks of the Finnow, that enhances the scene
   Where it joins the Blackwater twixt Drishane and Dooneen."

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   This was a favourite Song at all "American Wakes" in the neighbourhood of Millstreet about 40 years ago.
   On the morning of the emigrant's departure for the Millstreet Railway Station the song was the final one given before leaving the home and I remember well how the people wept on hearing it.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Tadg O Corcóráin

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Múinteoir