Rathlin Island (1847)
Cathie Ryan
I haven't slept since Wednesday evening,
There is no sleep with all this grieving
No music here where once was singing
Where once was singing
Sail away from the island
Sail out on the sea
Turn a blue eye back on Rathlin
An baile i mo chroí
They are like ghosts here on Rathlin
All fleshless bone, all pained and silent
Their feet are stone, where once was dancing
Where once was dancing
Ochón is ochón, the ship is sailing
Carve our name in cloch na scríobh
Ochón is ochón, the hills are wailing
In ainm Dé, in ainm Dé, a rachfaimíd
Today I walk Rachraí's headland
The welcome’s warm here on the island
Seventy strong, it’s hard to leave them
It’s hard to leave them