A poetic farewell to Valentia Island

THE following poem was composed by Patrick (Patie Lyne) of Cooil, Valentia, who emigrated to New York in the late ‘40s to live in Brooklyn.

He was married to Alice O’Connor of Craw, Valentia, and they had four children, namely Mary, Ann, Thomas and Chrissie.

Farewell to Dairbhre

As I sadly gaze on the setting sun, the tears come to my eyes,

For well I know I’ll be far away when again the sun will rise,

For at midnight hour I’ll board a plane and to Ireland bid goodbye,

And with heavy heart about to break across the ocean fly,

Then those happy boyhood days I spent will seem naught but a dream,

As I take a long and parting look from Geokaun to Glanleam,

As I watch the sun go gently down north-west in Dingle Bay,

And view those scenes well known to me from Knightstown Back to Bray.

As I stand up here on Cuaisín Ard and for a mile around I see,

Away up north to the Old Man Sound and south to Portmagee.

Away out west the Skellig Rocks and the wild Atlantic sea,

While to the east is sweet Filemore and likewise Beenatee,

But all those scenes I leave behind to cross the raging main,

Tis many the change that will take place e’er I return again,

But one thing that will never change, I swear my good right hand,

That love I have and always will for my own dear native land,

Then on the way down the quarry road and down to Gaffney’s Cross,

To meet the friends so dear to me and stroll on down to Ross,

For ‘tis there I’ll have to say goodbye and bid a sad farewell

As I drink the last drop in my glass in the famous Royal Hotel

But at the quay you’ll pity me as the ‘ Thomas’ pulls away,

‘ Tis there I’ll part with those I love before the dawn of day,

My parents are heart-broken, my mother starts to cry,

For no one knows if she’ll see again her dark-haired pride and joy.