I'm looking for information on the event commemorated in the song written by Frank Hennessey called "The Grangetown Whale" or "The Mighty Grangetown Whale." I have some sketchy information but would like to get the complete real story behind this song. I tried emailing Frank Hennessey a few months ago but never received a reply. Frank may never have seen my request. A Lyrics and Knowledge search turns up no reference to the song in the Mudcat archives.

Here's what I know [or think I know]. The carcass of a whale washed up on shore somewhere in south Wales. Some enterprising men found the carcass and decided that they could turn a profit by exhibiting it. So they loaded it on a flatbed truck and created a mobile exhibet. After a time the carcass became so "fragrant" - in spite of "pickling" it with formaldehyde - that they buried it somewhere near the town of Grangetown on the outskirts of Cardiff.

Some time later [in the 1970s?] a major flooding of the River Taff unearthed the remains. This event inspired Frank Hennessee to write the fine "tongue-in-cheek" song about hunting the mighty Grangetown Whale.

I'd like to know how close the above is to the actual event. Any information that can fill out the details of the story, and correct any errors or inacuracies in the above, would be most welcome. I'd also like to see the lyrics posted here on the Mudcat. Thanks in advance. The song can be found on the Oceans Apart CD, entitled "Tethered To The Foam," www.oceansapartmusic.com