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