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Washington, D.C. songwriter Peter Jones fashioned this song from emigrant letters written to a family in America from a family in County Mayo in the latter decades of the nineteenth century, a period which saw over ten million people leaving Ireland, most never to return.

lyrics

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and sixty
My dear and loving son John
Your good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara’s
So good as to write these words down
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England
The house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected
A third to a half of them bad
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O`Donnell
Are going to be married in June
Your mother says not to work on the railroad
And be sure to come on home soon

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and seventy
My dear and loving son John
Hello to your missus and to your four children
May they grow healthy and strong
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble
I suppose that he never will learn
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
And now we have nothing to burn
Brigid is happy you named a child for her
Although she's got six of her own
You say you found work but you don't say what kind
Or when you'll be coming home

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and eighty
Dear Michael and John my sons
I'm sorry to give you the sad news
That your dear mother has gone
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly
Your brothers and Brigid were there
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly
Remember her in your prayers
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning
With money he’s sure to buy land
For the crop has been poor and the people are selling
At any price they can

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and ninety
My dear and loving son John
I suppose that I must be close on eighty
It’s thirty years since you've gone
Because of all of the money you sent me
I'm still living out on my own
Michael has build himself a fine house
And Brigid’s daughters are grown
And thank you for sending your family picture
They're lovely young woman and men
You say that you might even come for a visit W
hat joy to see you again

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and ninety two
My dear brother John
I’m sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you
That father passed on
He was living with Brigid she says he was cheerful
And healthy right down to the end
Ah, you should have seen him playing with the grandchildren
Of Pat McNamara your friend
And we buried him alongside of mother
Down at Kilkelly churchyard
He was a strong and feisty old man
Considering his life was so hard

And it’s funny the way he kept talking about you
He called for you at the end
Oh why don't you think about coming to visit
We’d all love to see you again

Words and Music by Peter Jones (copyright control)

credits

from The Green Fields of America - Live in Concert 1988, released January 19, 2022
Mick Moloney: mandolin, harmony vocals
Robbie O’Connell: guitar, vocals
Jimmy Keane: piano accordion
Eileen Ivers: fiddle
Seamus Egan:Whistle

Kilkelly by Peter Jones (Copyright Control)
Leaving by Jimmy Keane (Cappal Beag Music BMI)

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Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, and Jimmy Keane image

Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, and Jimmy Keane

Since 1984, Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, and Jimmy Keane have been delighting audiences with their unique blend of Irish music and song, both traditional and contemporary. An evening with this trio is an experience that covers much musical ground and is not easily forgotten. ... more

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