Some time ago I observed to Danny Quinn, Irish-American singer in the Northeast, that there are so many heartbreaking songs of Irish immigration that now, when for the first time in 800 years, more people are returning to Ireland than are leaving, there should be an upbeat song celebrating this.
He called me a few days later to sing this, now available on his most recent CD, Vacant Chair.

    THEY'RE GOING HOME

Liam came from County Clare back in 1989.
He got a job in Canada on a Ford assembly line.
There were three other lads who came from home; they shared a walkup flat,
But things have turned around back there, and he's so happy that
   They're going home,
   They're going home;
   Yesterday it was just a dream but today they're going home.
   They're going home,
   They're going home;
   Yesterday it was just a dream but today they're going home.

Eamonn came from Dublin, skilled in the builder's trade.
He'd march and sing the songs of home on each St. Patrick's Day.
He met an Irish girl down in Delaware; they built condos by the sea.
Dublin needs her builders, home's a better place to be.
   They're going home. . .

After years of emigration songs full of sorrow and of pain,
The pendulum has finally swung and they're going home again.

Grace had moved from Derry back in 1992.
Jobs were getting hard to find when her schooling was all through.
Some friends in Boston took her in, and she waitressed every day.
But Ireland needs her teachers now; she's going home to stay.
   They're going home. . .

Danny has a website at www.dannyquinn.com