Subject: Lyr Add: KILKELLY IRELAND (R O'Connor)
From:
Bugsy
Date: 10 Aug 99 - 03:24 AM
KILKELLY IRELAND (R O'Connor)
Kilkelly Ireland 1860, my dear and loving son John.
You good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara
So kind to write these words down.
And your brothers have all gone to find work in England
The house is so lonely and sad.
The crop of potatoes is sorely effected
The third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Bridget and Patrick O'Donald
Are going to be married in June.
Mother says not to work on the railroad,
Bs sure to come on home soon.
Kilkelly Ireland 1870, my dear and loving son John.
Hello to your missus and to your four children,
And may they grow healthy and strong.
And Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,
I suppose that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness, there's no turf to speak of
And so we have nothing to burn.
And Bridget she's happy to name the child for them,
Although she has six of her own.
You say you've found work but you don't say what kind.
When will you come on home.
Kilkelly Ireland 1880, Dear Michael and John my sons.
I'm Sorry to give you the very sad news,
That your dear old mother passed on.
And we buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,
Your brothers and Bridget were there.
You don't have to worry, she died very peaceful,
Remember her in your prayers.
And it's good to hear that Michael's returning
With money he's sure to buy land.
The crops have all failed and people are selling,
For any price that they can.
Kilkelly Ireland 1890 my dear and loving son John.
I suppose that I must be close on to eighty,
It's thirty years since you've gone.
And Because of all the money you sent me,
I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house
And Bridget daughters have grown.
And thank you for sending the family picture,
Such lovely young women and men.
They say that you might even come for a visit,
What a joy to see you again.
Kilkelly Ireland 1892, my dear brother John.
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you,
The dear old father has gone.
He was living with Bridget, they say he was cheerful,
And happy right up to the end.
I wish you had seen him play with the grandchildren
Of Pat McNamara your friend.
And we buried him down alongside of mother,
Down at Kilkelly churchyard.
He was a strong and a feisty old man
Considering his life was so hard
And it's funny the way he kept asking about you,
He called for you at the end.
Why don't you think about coming to visit?
We'd all love to see you again.
Bugsy
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