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Subject: Lyr Add: TOM CREAN OF ANNASCAUL (Gary McMahon) From: MartinRyan Date: 02 Sep 03 - 06:46 AM TOM CREAN OF ANNASCAUL (Ballad for an unsung hero) Air: The Felons of Our Land 'Tis of an unsung hero I mean to tell you now A native son of Ireland and if time will me allow Of this lion-hearted Kerryman, whose life I will recall I'll sing his fame, his deeds proclaim – Tom Crean of Annascaul In eighteen seventy-seven, a farmer's son saw light When he was young, the Gaelic tongue to speak was his delight He was one of ten, in that mountain glen, when the seas loud roar did call Carefree and brave, on the ocean wave went Crean of Annascaul On board the Ringarooma for New Zealand he set sail As an able-bodied seaman in the teeth of wind and gale He was soon on board Discovery, with Captain Scott installed On the high seas to Antarctica – Tom Crean of Annascaul In that frozen land for three long years he faithfully did serve Until at last he sailed back home, on shore leave well deserved In nineteen ten going back again, once more to give his all His burning goal – to reach the Pole – Tom Crean of Annascaul On that fateful final journey when Scott said turn back With Lashly and with Evans he headed for the shack It broke his heart, thus to depart and down the tears did fall For his captain he would ne'er more see – Tom Crean of Annascaul In that awful trek to Hut Point when the cold cut to the bone Evans ill, lay stiff and still, while Tom marched on alone For fifty-six kilometres in knee-deep snow he crawled And saved his brave companions did Tom Crean of Annascaul Who can forget that epic voyage made in an open boat With Worsley and with Shackleton – 'twas God kept them afloat Eight hundred miles of ocean before they made landfall To rescue gallant comrades, led by Crean of Annascaul On three Polar expeditions to the South Pole he did go No braver seen than him I ween, in that land of ice and snow Fearless loyal and resolute like a ramrod he stood tall With fiery zeal and nerves of steel, Tom Crean of Annascaul They showered him with honours as they recognised his fame While a mountain and a glacier will forever bear his name In a tomb in Ballinacourty he awaits the final call From his long sleep in the Kerry hills – Tom Crean of Annascaul. Copyright: Written by Gary McMahon of Newcastle West. I give the above as Gary sent it to me. As I learn it, I find I'm using one of the tunes for The Flying Cloud and changing a word here and there. The tune is very like that used by Gary - and I like the association! Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: Raggytash Date: 02 Sep 03 - 07:55 AM When Tom retired from the Royal Navy he bought a pub in Annascaul, which has been renamed (either by Tom himself or a subsquent owner)The South Pole, well worth a visit for the memorabilia on the walls and the Guinness |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: MartinRyan Date: 02 Sep 03 - 07:55 AM Click here for a site with good background on Crean. Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: MartinRyan Date: 02 Sep 03 - 07:58 AM Raggytash Yes - he named it himself. There's a TV ad for Guinness on Irish television days these days, based on Tom dreaming of owning a pub as he struggled towards the Pole! Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: Raggytash Date: 02 Sep 03 - 08:37 AM I might get to see that in October, I will be in Kilkieran near Roundstone for a week |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: Rapparee Date: 02 Sep 03 - 08:42 AM Well, damn. The next time I'm in Dingle/Camp area I'll have to drop in. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: ossonflags Date: 02 Sep 03 - 01:11 PM Get them to show you the arctic storm in the cupboard. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: ossonflags Date: 03 Sep 03 - 02:50 PM Also well worth a visit in Annascaul is the recently refurbished "Dan Foleys" |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: wysiwyg Date: 03 Sep 03 - 03:10 PM Thanks! ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: Reiver 2 Date: 04 Sep 03 - 06:45 PM This has been an interesting thread for one who has been thrilled and impressed with the whole Shackelton story. Special thanks to Martin Ryan for the song about Tom Crean and the link with the biographical information about him. Tom Crean was indeed an unsung hero. I'd forgotten about the dramatic role he played on the Scott expedition, but got out my copy of that book and looked up all the Crean references. When I was in Ireland in 2001 I got to Tralee, but passed up the Dingle peninsula to do the Ring of Kerry. Next time I go I'll make a special point of visiting Annascaul and stopping at the South Pole for a Guiness and a toast to Tom Crean. Reiver 2 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: MartinRyan Date: 04 Sep 03 - 06:50 PM Reiver 2 You were a year early! There was an excellent exhibition in the COunty Museum in Tralee last year ( I think - visits to Kerry tend to blur!) on Crean's role in polar exploration. Lots of items from Greenwich Maritime Museum and the Scott Polar institute. Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: Reiver 2 Date: 04 Sep 03 - 06:56 PM I'm sorry I missed it! I suppose it was only a one-time exhibit? Reiver 2 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: MartinRyan Date: 05 Sep 03 - 03:00 AM It was there for a season, as I recall. Not sure if there is still a small exhibit permanently. Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: GUEST,ossonflags Date: 05 Sep 03 - 06:56 AM They unvielled a statue of Tom Crean this year in Annascaul.It is on the green outside the post office.Statue taken from that famouse photograph of the Tom Crean holding the puppies. The efffect is spoilt somewhat by the fact that he appears to be stood on two breeze blocks!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: diesel Date: 05 Sep 03 - 02:53 PM Beautiful Poem Thanks Martin for posting it and say thanks to Gary. Diesel |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: Reiver 2 Date: 05 Sep 03 - 08:07 PM I'll be sure to look for an exhibit and for the statue next time I get to Ireland -- means that I'll be able to spend less time in the South Pole pub, though. Rats! What is a breeze block? Is that like the hollow blocks we call cement blocks, or cinder blocks, here in this uncivilized part of the world? Reiver 2 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: GUEST,ossonflags Date: 06 Sep 03 - 06:12 AM Yes. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: RoyH (Burl) Date: 12 Sep 03 - 10:07 AM I really like that song. One query - is Tom's name pronounced Creen or Crane? Burl |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: GUEST Date: 12 Sep 03 - 10:13 AM Creen will do nicely! Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: boglion Date: 13 Sep 03 - 04:14 AM My cottage in Kerry is about 20 miles by road from Anascaul but only about 8 miles on foot over the mountains. I meant to go and visit the new statue last month when we were over there but we had to cut short our holiday. I'm going back next month and will make a point of paying a visit both to the statue and the pub. Who knows I might even make the trip on foot again. Excellent song. I'll have to find the air somewhere. Terry |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: GUEST Date: 23 Oct 09 - 11:00 AM Just came across THIS VIDEO on YouTube, which may be of interest. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: Joe Offer Date: 29 Jun 20 - 05:10 PM I think the melody is "Tramps and Hawkers," "Peter Emberley," or "Lakes of Pontchartrain"? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tom Crean of Annascaul From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 30 Jun 20 - 01:28 PM I suspect the real inspiration for the tune was 'Three Miles from Annascaul" - the name of Tom's home village. Gary McMahon would also have known it from an older song "The Felons of Our Land", as he mentioned in the transcript he sent me. He sang it in a fairly strict waltz time, interestingly enough, whereas I loosened it up a little - as I also did with the words! Here's a nice version of "Three Miles..." for reference: Three miles from Annascaul" Regards |
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