Dear Mbo,

I'm very glad that you mentioned 'Some Mother's Son'. Even though the film is not specifically about Bobby Sands, it is an excellent film that examines both sides of the situation in Northern Ireland at the time. The music of Bill Whelan was wonderful, especially his song, 'The Seabird'. This song affected me particularly, since I have a son who is about the age of the hunger strikers at the time; and the film is essentially the story of the mothers and families of the strikers, and the torment and pain that they suffered from the actions of their sons and the actions of the authorities. Below are the words of the song, both in English and my translation of them to Irish.

Slán agus beannachtaí ar achan duine anseo, Áine

The Seabird
by Bill Whelan

I dream of a Seabird
As it opens its wings to the gale
And as it soars o'er the Island
It follows the wake of my trail
And when the dark night falls
And the grey mists surround me
My heart is a small boat
Your love is its sail

Chorus

And I'll sing of all the love I have for you
And I'll bear with all the pain you want me to
For whichever way we may go
And no matter what winds may blow
It's our Nature that binds your heart to me

Oh my hope is for freedom
And it rises and falls on the tide
And as I sail on the ocean
I have one warm secret inside
When the west winds blow
And the white waves are foaming
My heart is a small boat
Your smile is the shore

Chorus

I will sing of all the love I have for you
And I'll bear with all the pain you want me to
For whichever way we may go
And no matter what winds may blow
It's our Nature that binds your heart to me

An t-Éan Mara
(aistriúchán le hÁine Cooke)

Is éan mara go tchímse
Chun an gála a sciatháin ag leathadh
Thar an t-oileán ag ardú
Ag leanúint mo lorg thar lear
Nuair a éirí an oíche dhubh
'S ceo farraige gach taobh domh
Is báidín mo chroíse
'S a sheol atá do ghrá

Curfá

Is síorghrá duitse a bheidh mo cheol go deo
Is do chrá a tógfar ormsa le mo bheo
Cibé bealach a rachaidh sinn
Cibé gaotha ag séideadh orainn
Beidh ár gcroíthese le chéile nascadh go brách

Is m'aisling ár tsaoirse
Agus tagann sí in aghaidh an tsrutha
Mar sheolaim thar mara
Cuirim rúin ó chroí taobh istigh
Nuair a shéideann na gaotha aniar
'S na tonnta gheala ag casadh orm
Is báidín mo chroíse
Is d'aoibhse mo thír

Curfá

Is síorghrá duitse a bheidh mo cheol go deo
Is do chrá a tógfar ormsa le mo bheo
Cibé bealach a rachaidh sinn
Cibé gaotha ag séideadh orainn
Beidh ár gcroíthese le chéile nascadh go brách