Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy

Subject: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST,christomandy
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 01:14 PM

Anyone out there know all the words and perhaps have the chords for "My Home in Fermoy?" been looking for ages and cannot locate anywhere! Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: MartinRyan
Date: 22 Aug 01 - 06:49 AM

It's in Tomas O'Cannainn's "Songs of COrk", as far as I know. I don't have a copy but will try to dig one up when I get a chance. The air, incidentally, is "Teddy O'Neill"

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Aug 01 - 08:55 AM

See this recent thread:  My Home in Fermoy  for verse 1 and part of verse 2.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 22 Aug 01 - 09:03 AM

Thanks for posting that link Malcolm. Eddie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 22 Aug 01 - 04:58 PM

Thanks, Malcolm. I picked this up from the "unanswered questions thread" - so wasn't aware of the duplication.

Anyway - I have the book! I just forgot that O Cannain had edited it, thinking it was a Jimmy Crowley (a real Corkman!) opus. The first verse is very much as in the other thread. I'll type up the other three when I get a chance.

Regards

Subject: ADD: My Home in Fermoy^^
From: Wolfgang
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 04:52 AM

Blessed be your memories, Crazy Eddie and Martin, 'til old age. The version below including notes comes from T. ÖCanainn, Songs of Cork, 1978.

Wolfgang

MY HOME IN FERMOY

There's a spot far away, o'er the wide spreading ocean,
A spot that this fond heart will never forget.
Fond mem'ry clings 'round it, so pure and so tender,
That even its name brings a throb of regret.
Regret for the long vanished days of my childhood,
when earth was all pleasure, and life knew but joy.
Oh! could I recall them, those bright golden hours,
I spent long ago in my home in Fermoy.

The grand old Blackwater flows down through the meadows
Passing silently, swiftly by green Castlehyde,
flowing on 'neath the ivy-clad bridge o'er ist bosom
Where peaceful and fair stands the town by its side.
And only in dreams can I hear the sweet pealing
Of bells from the hills with their cadence of joy
Ringing mellow and sweet at the Angelus hour,
O'er the mountains and wildwood round dear old Fermoy.

Farewell, dear old home, but I won't say forever,
for deep in my heart a fond hope stills clings on
that one day again I may gaze on Blackwater
and watch the moon rise o'er the hill of St. John.
But glad though the hour be and joyous the welcome
Its light will be darkened by one sad alloy:
For many the loved ones who last roamed there with me
Now sleep far away from their home in Fermoy.

Once more I revisit from far o'er the water
The scenes and the friends whom I loved in the past
And foremost among them my dear Alma Mater
Whose lessons still guide me and will to the last.
Half a century to-day live amongst us those Brothers
Whose unselfish lives are our pride and our joy,
may they ever remain as a light to all others
to teach and to cherish the youth of Fermoy.

From the notes: The song was sung at the Christian Brothers Golden Jubilee celebration in Fermoy on Wednesday, 26th November, 1913, by Mr. Frank M. Gormley. The programme note tells us that it was composed by "the late Miss Kate Dowling".
^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: Wolfgang
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 04:55 AM

another attempt at the fada:

Tomás ÓCanainn is the Editor of the book.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 12:24 PM

Well done, Wolfgang! Not for the first time, you saved me from copy-typing!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 04:19 PM

Found a few more verses in another book. Details later.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 05:00 PM

I'm not sure they're worth adding. The one interesting point is that the set (from another book called "Songs and ballads of Cork" omits the one verse with specific reference to the "brothers" - a body of which I have miced meories!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 05:09 PM

....make that "mixed memories.."!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 01:41 AM

Wolfgang,
thanks for posting these words, much appreciated.

Martin,
If you'd written "miced meories" in your school work while at "The Brothers" you might have even more mixed memories!

If it was really written by Miss Kate Dowling, she would hardly have written the verse about the brothers, as it was a boys-only school. Methinks this verse was added for the occasion of the Brothers golden Jubilee!

I'd be interested in seeing the other verses, Martin, even if they're not great; just curious to see what they refer to. If you have time, please.
Regards,
Eddie.

Subject: ADD: My Home in Fermoy^^
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Sep 01 - 05:27 PM

Eddie

You may well be right about the "Brothers verse". Here's the extra verses from the second source:

And only in dreams can I gaze at tall Corrin
That frowns tall and grim on the town at its feet
How oft have I rambled right on to its summit
Or gathered green shamrocks from the meadow beneath
O memory, you chain binds my heart to old Erin
They comfort and brighten my life's dreary pathway
And oft take me back to my home in Fermoy

They remind me again of the still summer evenings
When I stood on the bridge spanning Funcheon's dark stream
And watched the sun set on the distant blue mountain
Or gazed through the trees on the silver moonbeams
When friends, happy friends, true-hearted, were near me
To soothe every sorrow and share every joy
But where are they now, for their places are vacant
And their voices are missed from their homes in Fermoy

The sun shines as fair on the Square and the river
The moon shines as fair on the green Convent Hill
But they shine on that home now deserted and lonely
Though some of its loved ones cling round its heart still
They shine on green graves where warm hearts now slumber
Whose laugh rang with mine in youths careless joy
When we strayed long ago on the banks of Blackwater
Or roamed through the woods and the vales of Fermoy

Some have wandered away o'er Atlantic's broad billows
To toil in the cities and plains of the West
But longingly, sadly their thoughts ever turn
To the home and the friends their hearts loved the best
And one who so proudly looked up to green Erin
Where he roamed o'er the hills , a light-hearted boy
And dreamed golden dreams 'neath her old ruined castle
- Now sleeps faraway from his home in Fermoy

Regards ^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 12:49 AM

Thanks Martin. Eddie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 04:49 PM

Can anybody get a tune to me on this one? Preferable format is Noteworthy Composer, with embedded lyrics for the first verse, but I'll take scans or anything I can get.

-Joe Offer (click to e-mail)-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 05:11 PM

Joe

The air is "Teddy O'Neill". Surely we have that somewhere?

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 05:17 PM

Thanks, Martin - you can find the tune for Teddy O'Neill here (click). I'll work up a Noteworthy file for the Digital Tradition.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 05:22 PM

Joe

I know it - only too well!

Regards

p.s. Actually, of all sentimental Oirish songs, it's one of my favourites.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 05:26 PM

You got me, Martin! American English could stand to be a little more specific. I know you're familiar with the tune, so I should have said, "Interested parties can find the tune here (click)."
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST,Gerald Daly
Date: 18 Jul 08 - 09:12 AM

From an old Newspaper clipping of my Grandfathers a version of My Home In Fermoy attributed to my Great Uncle Michael Daly (1866-1950). It is similar to above but being from Australia drops the reference to the Atlantic and adds an entirely different last verse. The tone of this verse suggests to me it may have been written in early 1920s. Interested in others thoughts. I was unaware of the existance of any other version untill a couple of years ago. I suspect this is Michaels version of a song he learnt in Fermoy district before he came to Australia in about 1891. The family came from not far north of Fermoy.

MY HOME IN FERMOY
There's a spot far away o'er the wide spreading ocean,
A spot which my sad heart can never forget:
My memory clings 'round it, so pure and so tender,
That often its name brings a throb of regret.
Regret for the long-vanished days of my childhood,
When earth was all pleasure and life was all joy;
O could I recall all those bright golden hours,
I spent long ago at my home in Fermoy.

The grand old Blackwater sweeps down by its meadows,
Passing silently, swiftly by dear Castlehyde,
Swift gliding on 'neath the ivy clad bridges
While peaceful and fair stands the town on each side,
O mem'ry, your charms bind my heart to old Erin,
Dear bondage which absence can never destroy,
Where I rambled and played by the banks of Blackwater,
And roamed through the valleys of dear old Fermoy.

The sun shines as bright on Queen's Square by the river,
The moon shines as bright on the green convent hill;
It shines on the homes now deserted and lonely,
Though many a memory clings round them still,
It shines on green graves where old comrades now slumber,
Whose laugh rang with pleasure in youth's harmless joy,
In adventures to reach Corrin's lofty summit,
That stands tall and green near the town of Fermoy.

It reminds me again of the bright summer evenings,
When I stood on the bridge viewing Funcheon's dark stream,
And watched the sun set o'er the distant blue mountains,
And gazed through the trees at the silvery moon's beam.
Friends, happy friends, true-hearted, were near me,
To soothe every sorrow enhance every joy;
Now their places are vacant, their jubilant voices
Are missed from their homes in dear old Fermoy.

Farewell, dear old home! But I can't say "forever,"
For deep in my mem'ry a fond hope clings on,
That some day again I may dwell on Blackwater,
And watch the sun rise o'er the hill of St. John.
O, how glad were that hour, how joyous the welcome,
Though my fate has been darkened by one sad alloy'
Since I wandered and played by the banks of Blackwater,
And roamed through the valleys of dear old Fermoy.

The heart ever yearns for the days of its childhood,
And memory wings back to the days of the past,
In the days when old Ireland in bondage lay sleeping
Thanks to God that the bond is near broken at last.
Soon that Emerald Flag in its glory shall glisten
With pride o'er a people whose hearts filled with joy,
Will welcome with fervour the Exiles of Erin'
And extend us the freedom of dear old Fermoy.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST,amdelacruz
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 05:14 PM

Hello, I am Angela Mckenney (Nee Daly) my great uncle Michael Daly wrote the poem My Home in Fermoy, I must be second cousin of Gerald Daly. I will be more than happy to find the way to get in contact with him. If anybody from this forum can make this message arrive to him I will be very happy. Thanks in advance. Angela

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST,Gerald Daly
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 01:01 AM

Angela Just rechecked this thread. You can email me at [e-mail] Gerald

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 09:26 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST,pat c
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 04:31 PM

there's a spot far away o'er the wide spreading ocean
a spot that my fond heart will never forget
though memories cling round it so pure and so gentle
that even its name brings a throb of regret
regret for the long vanished days of my childhood
when birth was all pleasure and life full of joy
oh could i recall them those long cherished hours i spent
long ago in my town of FERMOY

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Home in Fermoy
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Apr 12 - 01:59 PM

Hi
Does anyone have the Guitar Chords for this song.
Would appreciate it
Thanks
Willie