Hi Jeo et al,

I found the song and here it is,

Fergus

Transcribed from Songs of the Wexford Coast collected by Joseph Ranson 1948.

Note; Words from Margaret Mitten, Dec. 12th, 1937. Margaret was related to James Fitzsimons, the man who saved the wrecked fishermen. The author of the song was Mogue Doyle of Glasscarrig. Miss K.G. Flood took down the air from the singing of Thomas Murphy, Clondaw, Kilcormack, 1947.

THE POULDUFF FISHERMEN

As I rose from my slumber on the eleventh day of July,
'Twas early in the morning dawn I heard a doleful cry.
I stood awhile amazed thinking what it might be.
In a short while a maid divine in tears approached me

She appeared to be deranged or one quite out of mind.
I asked her name and whence she came and where she did reside.
She replied: "at Green Rock abbey, where once was mirth and glee;
Along this shore three children more the waves have snatched from me.

'Twas on a summers evening they put their boat to sea.
No danger did approach them till early the next day.
Returning home as usual in love and unity,
The cruel Perseverance she proved our destiny.

The Perseverance was a wreck, as you may understand,
She launched us in eternity all by the Lord's command.
When our boat she struck the wreck, of course her sails did jibe,
Young Walsh and Peter Redmond jumped on the weather side.

When our boat struck the sunken wreck the wild waves did pour in,
As from a well or waste-gate, from her stern unto her stem,
The Captain said, "I fear, my boys, pale death is close at hand;
We'll sail her in close by the wind, in hopes to gain the land.

These words were scarcely spoken when our yarnsman did cry;
"I see a boat to windward, she will be here by an' by."
The captain cried "strip off your clothes; she has us on her lee."
Young Walsh cried out "I cannot swim, what will become of me?"

A few more words were spoken when our boat received a sea
That sent her to the bottom without any more delay.
It's a poor thing to be drowning: now think of those poor men
Contending hard with wind and tide stripped naked to their skin.

They had no consolation but from the God on high,
But to their joy and great surprise, a boat soon passed them by.
Thy cried out "we are drowning," as well as they could speak,
But the sea ran deep and heavy and over them did break.

Fitzsimons cried: "Hold hard, my boys; I'll bring you safe to shore."
He picked up some, on buoys and nets and one upon an oar,
Long life to James Fitzsimons and to his worthy crew;
He needed not an order; he well knew what to do.

He soon picked up five live men and then a body dead,
And two of them he left behind; salt tears for them were shed.
When our boat she reached the shore with the sad and fatal news,
It grieved the hearts of rich and poor, and set them all confused.

To think of these three darling men, the Pride of Poulduff Strand.
They were launched unto eternity all by the Lord's command.
Of their names I must make mention, I will not pass them by;
John and Bryanie Leacy, the same I won't deny.

There was Moses and James Whitty and Kinsella likewise;
Young Walsh and Peter Redmond, two darling fine young boys,
There's one thing more that grieves me sore and causes me to weep;
'Tis for young Peter Redmond that's lying in the deep;

There he's a prey for Neptune, where the foaming billows roar;
'Tis sad for his aged parents, they will never see him more.
We'll search the briny waters; we'll search them night and day,
Until his body will arise and float upon the sea.

The clergy from the altar desired of us to pray,
That the Lord their souls He may receive upon the Judgement Day,
Young Redmond, Walsh and Whitty, the pride of Poulduff Strand,
That were launched unto eternity all be the Lord's command.