This is a the first verse of the song according to Barnbrack (as I hear them!)

It's twenty years ago today, I grasped my mother's hand
She kissed and blessed her only son, going to a foreign land.
She clasped me to her loving breast, she knew I had to go.
And I could hear her gentle voice, the words were sweet and low.

O goodbye Johnny dear, and when you're far away,
Don't forget your dear old mother, far across the say (sea)
Write a letter now and then and do the best you can
And don't forget where'er you roam, that you're an Irish man.


Somebody's bound to come up with the rest of the lyrics.
best wishes, Yvonne