It's about time that this masterpiece, this memorial to Martin Burke be brought to a bigger stage. Radio na Gaeltachta for a start.Thanks for putting this up Nicola....greetings from Cree
I heard this tune at a session and I’m so glad I found a recording! Can I ask who the artist is? I’m not familiar with them and would love to expand my trad knowledge.
I love this song and I have an mp3 copy of it sent to me by Aidan Vaughan, set dance teacher from Mullagh. Can you give me some details? Who sings it and what is the CD it's on? I have a radio show in Philadelphia and I've played it several times but I know very little about it. I go to Miltown for the Willie Week and always go out to Quilty and Seafield.
The Clogher Road O the savage loves his native land be it mountain, vale, or glen, The memories of their youthful days live in the hearts of men, They travel here they travel there through France and Germany, But the heart feels light on the Clogher Road, that run down to the sea. I was a stranger on this road now many years ago, They greeted me so friendly with a warm and kind ‘hello’; When the bright red sun sinks in the west, I surely long to be Where peace is found on the Clogher Road that run down to the sea. The youth they pine for brighter lights, for fortune and for fame, They leave their birth homes far behind with hearts that call their name, As the years go by some live and die and some long to feel so free To roam at will on the Clogher Road that run down to the sea. But in islands raise your cattle rare on áis grass two foot high, And Ballard to the south you’ll see with cliffs up to the sky; Back from the Strand Mount Callan stands with the road going through the Vee, And Goulnalicke near the Clogher Road that run down to the sea. That sentinel that stands alone ’way out upon the shore - Sure Ireland gets its full full share of Atlantic wind and roar, The Leon* could not take its sign to stay out on the lee, ’Twas wrecked in sight of the Clogher Road that run down to the sea. God’s blessings on you Quilty folk and them that pull an oar From Spanish Point to Seafield Strand men who rode the currach mór; ’Way out to sea the gannets flee so swift and gracefully, These sights you’ll see from the Clogher Road that run down to the sea. - Martin Burke *Note onThe Leon (compliments of Quilty National School web site) The Leon XIII was a French sailing vessel, bound for the Shannon Estuary in 1907 with a cargo of United States wheat. On 30 September the ship was off Loop Head and about to enter the Estuary, when a storm blew her northward along the coast. On the morning of 1 October she was sighted being swept helpessly onto the reefs off Quilty on the west coast of Clare. Having lost her rudder off Mutton Island, she struck the reef and lay broken in two on the jagged rocks. The stern became submerged almost immediately and the crew of twenty two (22) clung to the foredeck. The violence of the storm was such that any attempt at rescue could not be contemplated that day. At nightfall every home placed lighted candles in the windows, communicating hope to the beleagured sailors, so near but yet so far from the safety of shore. Conditions on 2 October were almost as bad as the previous day. Word of the wreck spread and a crowd began to gather in the village of Quilty. Attempts to launch a currach failed. The local coastguard attempted to launch a timber keeled vessel and eventually succeeded only to have it capsize in the rough seas. One of their number was lucky to survive and the coastguard made no further effort to launch a rescue vessel. The French sailors then launched a raft with some of their number on board. The raft blew out to sea. Local men, John Connors, John Clancy and Tom Stack with others launched their curraghs in the midst of the persistent storm and set about a rescue. One of the currachs was overturned and its occupants catapulted into the sea. The other currachs picked up those in the water. Within an hour the currachs had made a Herculean rescue. The Captain of the Leon had broken his leg, and with a few crew memebrs, chose to remain on the wreck. They were taken off next day by a naval vessel from Cobh after the sea calmed. The press made much of the bravery of the heroic fishermen of Quilty. The village was in need of a church. After the wreck of the Leon an appeal was made on behalf of the Quilty fishermen. A trust was established and two funds were formed, one for the fishermens’ material needs and the other to build a church. An appeal to the French Government fell on deaf ears. A site for the church was donated by a Mr. Haren and work began. Stones and sand were donated by quarry owners. Materials were drawn by locals who helped with the building work. The church was completed in 1911, consecrated and dedicated to "Our Lady Star of the Sea" by Dr. Fogarty, bishop of Killaloe, on 9 October 1911. The walls of the church cost £895 and the tower £100. The church and round tower stand a fitting monument to the brave fishermen of Quilty who risked their lives to rescue the sailors of the Leon. The names of the rescuers are engraved in Irish on a large stone flag at the southern entrance to the church: Martin and Austin O’Boyle, Patrick Kelleher, Denis Kelly, Patrick Cunneen, John McInerney, James Falsey, Michael Stack, Michael O’Dowd, Patrick O’Boyle, Michael and John Kenny, John Kelleher, Patrick Kelly, Michael McInerney, John Scully, John O’Connor, Peter O’Boyle, Martin Murrihy, Francis Healy, Patrick Mangan, Martin Moloney and John Stack.Go ndéanaí Dia trochaire ar a n-ainmeacha cróga uilig.
