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Murphys of Mullaghbawn

Michael Murphy left Mullaghbawn in South Armagh for Liverpool at the start of the 20th century. It was here he married Mary Pender. This is the story of their nine daughters and one son, their children and grandchildren. "Cead Mille Failte"

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

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

2 Comments:

At 6:32 PM, Blogger DocMurf said...

Well done Eamon, Penny and Michael and John with The Celtic Hearts. Great job!

 
At 9:55 PM, Anonymous ann o'rourke taylor said...

very good family group

 

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