One of the saddest stories I learnt about many years ago, when studying my family history, was the tragic death of my great-uncle Patrick MULVENNA. In 1913 he left the family farm in Gowkstown, Glenarm, Co. Antrim to emigrate to Canada. On Wednesday 25 June 1913 the train carrying Patrick and hundreds of other immigrants across Canada derailed near Ottawa. Two of the nine carriages plunged into the Ottawa River – unfortunately Patrick must have been on-board one of these coaches and didn’t survive the accident. Read more…

Recorded at Shay’s Studio, April 2005

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I’m losing myself, I can’t find my mind,
I can’t seem to talk anymore.
There’s things inside me that I just cannot say
And it’s tearing me up, it’s tearing me up.

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Recorded at Shay’s Studio, April 2005

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Well, it’s farewell to Ireland
I’m leaving again.
When this May morning dawns
Another parting will begin
With a sense of hope across the land
For our daughters and our sons.
For the first time in my life
I feel the healing has begun.

I want to see you again.

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Recorded at Shay’s Studio, April 2005

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My brothers and sisters when they reached eighteen years
They caused my mammy to shed many tears.
Yes, my mammy cried when they had to decide
To go over the water.

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