The Family Reunion Song - 25th May 2013

Below are the words of the Family Reunion Song, written & Composed by Eamon Murphy with collaborations from brother John. Well done boys!

Sing it with Gusto! (If he's around!)

This is the story of a man from Mullaghbawn, South Armagh.

Chorus

(Driving rythmn)

Fogarty, Hegarty and Mackay

Cannon, O’Hanlon, Purcell

Duffy and Murphy and Herlihy

All gathering at the Hotel

We shall dance the night through

Singing songs old and new

We will join the young in the chorus

With our heads held high and a tear in our eye

We will remember those gone before us.

Verse 1

From Carickledrene Michael and his colleen

Mary Pender from Wexford New Ross

With a wave of their hand left their green land

and over to England did cross

To Liverpool they came for to make their name

And near Scotty Road they resided

By the sweat of their brow they made it somehow

For by their faith they were guided

Chorus

Fogarty, Hegarty and Mackay

Cannon, O’Hanlon, Purcell

Duffy and Murphy and Herlihy

All gathering at the Hotel

We shall dance the night through

Singing songs old and new

We will join the young in the chorus

With heads held high and a tear in our eye

We will remember those gone before us.

Verse 2

In the blood sweat and tears of those early years

Blessed with nine girls and a boy

As a family they prayed and the strength they displayed

Was a kinship none could destroy

There was Molly and Rosy and Susie and Josie

Sadie, and Aggie and Ann

Lily and Kitty and all so pretty and Mikey a good-looking man

Chorus

Fogarty, Hegarty and Mackay

Cannon, O’Hanlon, Purcell

Duffy and Murphy and Herlihy

All gathering at the Hotel

We shall dance the night through

Singing songs old and new

We will join the young in the chorus

With heads held high and a tear in our eye

We will remember those gone before us.

Verse 3

Mary Pender’s time came when her angel did claim

her new born baby was lost

She’s better off up there whispered Michael to her

But these words were said at a cost

For Mary could see that her own destiny was to see her child sooner

than later

Mary accompanied Joan left Michael alone , for thirty more years to

await her

(Note: Michael and Mary’s 11th child Joan, died in childbirth. Mary died a

few weeks later on 9th September 1924. Her husband, Michael died on

9th September 1954)

Chorus

Fogarty, Hegarty and Mackay

Cannon, O’Hanlon, Purcell

Duffy and Murphy and Herlihy

All gathering at the Hotel

We shall dance the night through

Singing songs old and new

We will join the young in the chorus

With heads held high and a tear in our eye

We will remember those gone before us.

Verse 4

Nine daughters and a son had to carry on

And soon had kids of their own

They reaped the reward of life’s lessons well taught

As Michael and Mary had shown

As their time drew near they had not a fear of accepting the job had

been done

For they were tireless supporters of their own sons and daughters

And critics there could be none

Chorus

Fogarty, Hegarty and Mackay

Cannon, O’Hanlon, Purcell

Duffy and Murphy and Herlihy

All gathering at the Hotel

We shall dance the night through

Singing songs old and new

We will join the young in the chorus

With heads held high and a tear in our eye

We will remember those gone before us.

Verse 5

So we gather here today to remember and pray for all family here and

departed

And we must ensure that the young so endure

For their journey has only just started

Its about mothers and daughters and fathers and sons we don’t ever

need to explain

Every woman and man is a part of this clan

We are all just links in a chain

Chorus

Fogarty, Hegarty and Mackay

Cannon, O’Hanlon, Purcell

Duffy and Murphy and Herlihy

All gathering at the Hotel

We shall dance the night through

Singing songs old and new

We will join the young in the chorus

With heads held high and a tear in our eye

We will remember those gone before us