Category: People

John Hoban 20th March 2007

Just looking at the website for The George…I’m glad to be represented in it. I would like to offer the song I wrote called “The Icing on the Cake- The Curraun Song”, which remembers many of the elders and people I have been associated with since the early 70’s in The George and in the community. Also, from my website, you could access a video that was made by National Japanese Television, which included a session at The George and the performance of the song which incidently was shown all over Asia and the USA. Imagine! My website address is http://www.johnhoban.net

I feel it’s an important contribution to Curraun community and Diaspora. John Hoban.

I’ve travelled the world from the East to the West.
Playing my music, turning a song.
I’ve been on all kinds of roads, boathairins, dirt tracks,
You name it, I’ve been there before.
As soon as we reach Mulrany town,
Turn left at the church, pass the school.
The heart fills with joy, with wonder and awe.
As we make our way to Curraun.

It’s some road so it is by the shores of Clew Bay.
Gaze at Croagh Patrick so high.
Cliara, Turk, Boffin below,
It’d make any grown pilgrim cry.
As soon as we reach cleat poll-a-ric,
We feel we’re already home.
Our hearts make our way to Curraun.

You step into “The George”, smell the turf fire,
You’re greeted with handshake and smile.
“Je do bhealtha, ta failte romhat,
sigh sios, lig do scith for a while.”
We have a glass, exchange the news
A sing-song starts up right away.
“The Rocksof Bawn”, “The Foggy Dew”
“We used to Sail ’round Clew Bay”.

“Major John”, “Mulrany Town”, “Shanagolden” alson.
“Cuil ne mBinh”, “The Youth of Mayo”
and of course “The May Morning Dew”.
“Dan O’Hara”, “Michael Hayes”, “Dangerous Dan McGrew”,
“Behind the Bush in the Garden”
“My old Home in Mayo, too”.

“My Lagan Love”, “Monnlight in Mayo”,
“A Lady that’s Known as Lou”.
“Mick Flanagan Great”, God rest his soul,
“The Red River Valley”, too. “All the Ways to Galway”
John Jim mining a gig.
“The Lakes of Ponchatrain” is being sung
“Ciuineas, one voice please”.

Everyone here has a song to sing,
Everyone listens so well.
The melodeon is passed from a hand to a hand
And it weaves its own spell.
Football’s discussed with a passion so fine
As is turf, the aimsir and hay.
We’re great, so we are, to be here at all
With such nature by the shores of Clew Bay.

We crossed over one time to Cliara so fine
In a vessel called “Banrion an Ghleanna”.
We were friendly on land, enemies at sea
To the home of the Great Grainne Uaile.
We drank plenty, played music, pulled tug-of-war
Danced half sets in “Bernards” till dawn.
Just how we got back to sweet Ath an Aoil,
It was all a great mystery to me

Now to conclude, to finish my song
Let me sing to you one and all
I’ve hit the deck, so I have many times
But I got up after each fall.
No matter where I ever wander
No matter what punches are thrown
My heart and my heels will be cunamh de.
Make my way to Curraun.
Music/Lyrics by John Hoban 2005