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07 Jun 20 - 12:09 AM (#4057799) Subject: Remember Doolough From: Joe Offer David Ingerson sang this powerful song today. REMEMBER DOOLOUGH (Jon Tunney) Words by John Tunney Melody “The Valley of Knockanure” Remember Doolough You may hear them speak about Mozambique And of Africa’s famine tide Of drought and greed of which few take heed That has sapped a continent’s pride While millions cry, ten thousands die And our government takes no stand But now a tale I’ll tell of a similar hell That happened in our own land. Early spring in Black ‘49 The country was on the rack Day and night relentless blight Had consumed the tatty crop While cattle and grain were exported to Spain And food lay piled in stores In Mayo south and round about The people they perished in scores. Crowds were gathered in Louisburgh Hoping for some relief ‘Twas said the Poor Law Guardians Could end their piteous grief These gentry fine were meeting to dine In Delphi ten miles away Children, Women and Men, 400 strong Set out on that fateful day. Crossing the Glankeen in full flood Some fell by the river side And going along the mountain road Still more collapsed and died Exhausted and weak, scarcely able to speak They thronged into Delphi town And waited in mass for food or a pass To enter the Workhouse grounds. After his meal of wine and veal A Guardian addressed them all There was no food here and he greatly feared No room within Workhouse walls They would have to go, hail rain or snow And to their homes go back Dismayed and afraid, despair in their hearts They set out upon the track. Like harvest sheaves or autumn leaves They fell dying along the road As dark drew in, the snow came down And the night it was bitter cold Going along the cliff the wind was stiff Driving on the blinding sleet Hundreds were swept into Doolough’s depths A horror beyond belief. Next day relieving officers Had a terrible sight in store With corpses strewn along the route And littering Doolough shore Whole families’ dead, for want of being fed An injustice, a crying shame A forgotten sign for our own time When we witness the very same From the Sudan to Pakistan Famine victims they wait in need And a people like ours, who know this curse Must surely take a lead Remember that walk, O remember Doolough Let our banners be unfurled Against selfish gain and indifference to pain But for justice throughout our world. Words by John Tunney Melody “The Valley of Knockanure” https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDavittMuseum/photos/the-following-is-a-poignant-reminder-of-those-dreadful-events-of-170-years-ago-t/2185155754925099/ |
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07 Jun 20 - 03:01 AM (#4057812) Subject: RE: Remember Doolough From: Jim Carroll John Tunney is an excellent singer, a friend and neighbour living in Ennis, Co Clare He and his siblings all sing; they are the latest generation of the legendary Tunney Family, Grandmother Brigid, Grand Uncle Michael Gallagher, father, Paddy... numerous other family members recorded by the BBC John completed his PhD on his families five generations of singing a couple of years ago, 'Hearth and Home', which sets out to place the songs in their social and geographical setting, and gave a talk on it at last year's Willie Clancy Summer School, John with his brother and sisters provided the singing examples - hopefully he will publish it - a magnificent piece of research John and his siblings can be heard on the excellent family set, 'Where the Linnets Sing' and his sister, Sister Brigid Tunney had produced her own CD (both not easy to get - contact me) John is a fine songmaker with a number of excellent songs under his belt THE IMMIGRANT "Doologh" refers to a horrific 'death march' during The Famine when 600 starving villagers embarked on a 15 walk (mainly uphill, over rough ground' to plead with the Landlord for relief; they were turned away 'empty-bellied' because the family "were eating" - most of the 600 died on the journey DOOLOUGH "Doolough" translates as "Black Lake"; it is one of the most picturesque roads in Ireland, running from Leenane, the town where 'The Field' was filmed to Louisburgh - off the road there is (surprisingly) a monument to the Dunne's workers who were sacked for supporting the boycott of South African goods TEN YOUNG WOMEN and ONE YOUNG MAN Not "too much information" I hope Jim |
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07 Jun 20 - 06:10 AM (#4057842) Subject: RE: Remember Doolough From: Jim Carroll Forgot to mention The road to Delphi starts adjacent to Ireland's only fjord Jim |