Contemporary: Remember Dubh Loch
Remember Dubh Loch
John Tunney
Two
verses: mp3 (794K)
Remember Dubh Loch is performed by Brian
Hart on his CD "An Lochin"
Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright information Notes from Brian: This
newly composed song
from John Tunney, son of the famous Paddy Tunney (RIP), exemplifies
how song transmits a host of information-- emotional, historical, and
otherwise. It is sung to an old marching air and recalls the
tragic events that occurred around Dubh Loch (Black Lake) during the winter
of 1847--the peak of The Great Hunger--in Co. Mayo. I was fortunate enough
to hear both Paddy and John sing this song luibin-style at the Fleadh Cheoil
na
hEireann in Listowel, Co. Kerry, just a short time before Paddy passed away.
I changed the last line to reflect the tragic nature of war and famine that
occur still today.
You may hear them speak about Mozambique and
Africa's famine tide
Of how drought and greed which few take heed have sapped a continent's pride
And while millions cry, ten thousands die and our governments take no stand
But the tale I'll tell is of a similar hell that happened in our own land.
Early spring in black forty-nine the country
was on the rag
Day and night relentless blight had consumed the tattie crop
And while cattle and grain were exported to Spain, and food lay piled in
stores
In middle south and round about, the people they perished in scores.
Crowds were gathered in Louisberg hoping for
some relief
Twas said that the poor law guardians could end their piteous grief
These gentlemen fine were meeting to dine in Delphi, ten miles away
Children women and men, six hundred strong set out on that fateful day
Crossing the glen keen 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 ground
But after his meal of wine and veal, the
guardian addressed them all
There was no food here, and he greatly feared no room within the work house
walls
They would have to go, hail rain or snow, back to their homes walk back
Dismayed and afraid, despair in their hearts, they set out upon the track
Like harvest sheaves or rotten leaves, they
fell dying along the road
As dark drew in the snow it came down and the night was bitter cold
Going along the cliff, the wind it was stiff, driving on the blinding
sleet
Hundreds were swept into Dubh Loch's depths, a horror beyond belief
Next day relieving officers had a terrible
sight in store
With bodies strewn along the route, and littering Dubh Loch's shore
Whole families dead for want of being fed, an injustice, a crying shame
A forgotten sign to our own time, when we witness the very same
From the Sudan to Afghanistan, famine victims
they wait in need
And a country like ours that knows this curse must surely take the lead
Remember that walk or remember Dubh Loch let our banners be unfurled
Against selfish gain and indifference to pain, but for justice through out
the
world.