Rainbows in your hair

My cousin,John Joe Holleran,always claimed that he was the one who toughened me up for life. He was a couple of years older than me and certainly led me on a few "hairy"expeditions.He used to come to our house for his "summer holidays"and we were constantly on the go.

One day we went roaming on the shores of Lough Mask (south Mayo).We found a boat at a little quay near the present site of Petersburg Activity Centre and of course we launched it on the waters of the little bay. We then found the oars, which we could barely use,and rowed round the bay. In a short time we became bored and decided to venture out into the lake proper.Due to youth and inexperience we didn't realize that a fair old wind was blowing. We had been sheltered by some high trees up to this point but when we got out in the main lake we were swept along by the wind.The waves were high,we couldn't see the land when we were in a trough and we were like on a roller coaster when on the crest of a wave.We were SCARED.

We knew enough to keep the boat pointed in the right direction and finally got in to the shelter of The Red Island where we drew our breath,calmed down ,and figured out a strategy for getting home.
After a heartstopping couple of hours we got back to base and never again sought the pleasures of boating or fishing.We became allergic to water and barely washed ourselves for many a year.
We had a lucky escape but as they say you will never drown if you are meant to hang.

Song is available at Google play on C.D."Lifelines" by Fartulla -Check it out.


Cry of Freedom


Creep along the hidden path beside the river
And I'll meet you in the rushes by the lake
The boat is hidden there,we can sail off anywhere
And go gliding with the white foam in our wake


I can hear again the creaking of the oarlocks
And on her side the thumping of the wave
I can see the endless sky,with the stormclouds flashing by
I still hear the cry of freedom that you gave


Deep in a trough with water all around us
Then it's way up high with oars in the air
Forward like a dart,to the pounding of my heart
The flying foam makes rainbows in your hair


The long winds from the mountains drive us faster
We wonder if we'll ever more see land
A dry mouth from the shock,passing by the jagged rock
And then we're safely beached upon the sand


Sail away,sail away
We hope that you land safely on the strand

Heroes in Black and White

God be with the pre video days when the greatest thrill was the Sunday matinee at the local cinema. Zorro or the Lone Ranger flashed across the flickering screen in glorious monochrome and the smoky atmosphere was shattered by the delighted screams of adventure-seeking children who worshipped their Heroes in Black and White

This song was written by Dominic Madden and is featured on the Fartulla C.D."Life lines"-(See Google Play for same)


Heroes in Black and White


Down to the Ritz each Sunday at three
Get into the queue my old pals and me
Then the doors would open to a whole new world
A world of "make -believe"


And I could be Audie Murphy
And walk about ten feet tall
Leave the mark of Zorro
On the back of the school shed wall
Fly through the trees
With the greatest of ease
Be anyone or go where I please
With my Heroes in Black and White


As the projector light cut through the smoke
I hung on to each word that my hero spoke
And fought the banditos on the big silver screen
In my world of "make-believe"


Out on the street the sun hurt your eyes
Three hundred kids and a thousand warcries
Each one a hero of the big silver screen
In a world of "make believe"


Home along High Street I'd ride like the breeze
To the wilds of Clonminch chased by Comanches
Burst into the kitchen safe from those wild renegades
In a world of"make-believe"

The Old Ground,Ennis,August 1977

In August,1977,Padraig Canny,Liz and I set off for Ennis Co.Clare.It must have been the occasion of the Fleadh Nua or some such. We camped in Milltown Malbay or more accurately in a field at Spanish Point. We were joined by other musical pilgrims,most notably Mick Guilfoyle. As always the music and singing was super but as they say ,all good things come to an end,so on the Monday we lifted our tents,packed old "Danny Blue"(the van) and headed for home.

We were coming in to Ennis when someone suggested we take a break for a cup of tea,so in to the Old Ground we went. We had just got inside the door when we heard the sound of a human voice. We investigated,and found a room full of people just off the main foyer. The singing was going full blast-the naked voice-.Tea and trip home were immediately forgotten and necks were craned and ears dilated to take in every sound and nuance of the session.

Most of the greats were there.
Len Graham and Joe Holmes sang Maherafelt May Fair,Races of Moville,Haymaking and various others
Liam Clancy sang a song from his own locality about a pyromaniac called Byrne. He sang a bi-lingual song about a pup (four legged of course )
Brian Mullins sang a few,as did Marty O'Malley,Jackie Devanney,Roisin White,Sinead Cahir. Geordie Hanna and Sara Anne O'Neill gave us a stave.And of course Frank Harte,the grand daddy of them all.
God it was a veritable "Who's Who "of the singing world at that time.

At tea time the session broke up as people scattered to get food etc. We approached Frank Harte for a chat and discovered that there was to be a singers get-together in Marinan's Pub in Milltown Malbay on that very night.
We grabbed a quick snack and went straight back to our field at Spanish Point,where we set up our tents in the exact spot we had vacated that morning.
When the singers arrived in Marinan's there we were in the choice seats waiting in great anticipation for the feast of songs.
We were not disappointed.
Brian Mullins sang Harry Hughes,Night Visit song and something about a nettle??
Sinead Caher sang Blue Eyed Lassie.
Len Graham sang Kane's Shady Glen and duetted with Joe Holmes on various songs and lilts.
Cathal McConnell sang Killaloe;Jackie Devanney sang Brocadh Hill and Frank Harte sang the great Child Ballad-Lady Margaret and the Ghost.
Thank God for the memories!!


Lady Margaret


Lady Margaret lay on her fine feather bed as the midnight hour drew near
When a ghostly form came to her room
And to her did appear,appear
And to her did appear


Are you my father ,the king ,she said,or are you my brother John
Or are you my true love William,she said
Coming home from Scotland along,along
Coming home from Scotland along


I'm not your father,the king,he said,nor am I your brother John
But I am your true love William,he said
Coming home from Scotland along,along
Coming home from Scotland along


Oh Margaret,oh Lady Margaret,he says for love or charity
Will you give me back the plighted troth
That once love I gave thee,gave thee
That once love I gave thee


I'll not give you back your plighted troth nor any such a thing
Till you take me to my father's hall
Where oft times we have been,have been
Where oft times we have been


So he's taken her to her father's hall and as they entered in
The doors flew open of their own free will,
To let young William in,in
To let young William in.


Oh Margaret ,oh Lady Margaret ,he says ,for love or charity
Will you now give me back my plighted troth
That once love I gave thee,gave thee
That once love I gave thee.


No,I'll not give you back your plighted troth,nor any such a thing
Till you take me to yon high churchyard
And marry me with a ring,a ring
And marry me with a ring


So he's taken her to yon high churchyard and as they entered in
The gates flew open of their own freewill
To let young William in,in
To let young William in


Oh Margaret,oh Lady Margaret, he said,for love or charity
Will you now give me back my plighted troth
That once love I gave thee,gave thee
That once love I gave thee


Then out of her pocket she drew a cross and placed it on his breast
Saying here is back your plighted troth
In Heaven may your soul find rest,find rest
In Heaven may your soul find rest


The wind does blow and the Moorcocks crow and it's nearly breaking day
It's time that the living should depart from the dead
So ,my love,I must away,away
My love,I must away.