MELVIN WATERS BLUE Farewell to Melvin's tranquil shore Where often I have strayed, In pensive thought o'er brae and brake Or sauntered in the shade; And strove my best in joyous mood To catch the trout and eel, I know when far in distant lands How lonely I will feel. No more I'll tread the verdant path No more I'll see or hear The thrush in groves beyond the lake Pour forth its notes so clear, And fondly gaze on each dear scene, The scenes that well I knew For I must say farewell to all Round Melvin Waters blue. How pleasant on a Summer day On Carraig Raghallaigh fair To sit and chat of days gone by And breathe the pleasant air. Or view the housetops of Kinlough Shine out among the trees St. Aidan's spire to crown the scene Defiant of the breeze; Or view Bundoran far below - The Brighton of the North - Where strangers go to breathe the air Where zephyrs fan the healthful strand So pleasing to the view; Home scenes so dear I will revere And Melvins waters blue. >From point of Ross to Inniskeen The scenes of joyous days, Where youth and health were seen to sport In Summer sun's bright rays. The people here round Melvin dear So little seek to know The grief an exile's heart must feel When forced from it to go. >From Rosclogher's ruined castle To Mount Prospect's fair demesne >From Dartry hills with verdure crowned To every smiling plain; >From Glenade's mist-clad mountains To all I ever knew I now must say farewell to all Round Melvin waters blue. How lovely on a sunny day To walk Rossinver braes, And view the scenes that lie beneath So well deserving praise. And view Fermanagh's noble hills That were in days of yore The home of many a manly heart When tyrants trod our shore. But now there's scarce an infant left Of all to tell the tale They joined the Irish exile band Far, far from Inishfail; They went across the ocean wave Strange pathways to pursue They left their native plains behind Round Melvin waters blue. Go sailing down by Laureen House, You'll catch a sweet perfume Of many a fresh and fragrant flower Well kept, and rich in bloom. While, standing on the wooden bridge As in a spellbound tie You will forget all other scenes But those beneath your eye. Go further down the stream and see The eel weir, old and grey To which the Drowes takes its course >From Laureen's sheltered bay; And view those groves of Irish palm, The ash and oak tree too; Alas! I say farewell to all Round Melvin waters blue. The thrush will sing the whole day long Upon the rowan tree But I won't hear that oft' heard song For I'll be far from thee. And once, for all, I'll say good-bye To friends and comrades gay, In hopes to meet again through time Then gladly will I stay And tread again those dear old scenes, That must forever reign Supreme in every exile's heart Far from his native plain. And when I do return again Old joys we will renew We'll dance and sing the whole day long Round Melvin waters blue. This song was composed about 1870 by Annie McGowan, daughter of John McGowan, teacher in Edenville N.S. Annie emigrated to England, where she lived until her death in 1929. Her nearest living relatives are the Gallaghers of Mullinaleck. Éadan Bhile = The Slope of the Lone (sacred) Tree. Area 456 acres. Population 303 (1841); 208 (1851); 190 (1861); 122 (1891); 92 (1911). Number of houses: 45 (1841); 38 (1851); 35 (1861); 29 (1891); 26 (1911). Part of Lareen Estate. It is located at the northern corner of Lough Melvin. A national school was established in this townland in 1847 to the south of the junction between the Kinlough road and the new estate. In 1866 a new school was built where Thomas Kelly now lives. In 1939 the Four Masters school was built now (c. late 1990's) occupied by the Brennan family.. This school served Kinlough village until 1985. Now generally spelled "Edenville", though old pronunciation was "Aidenvell Mul na Leaca = The Summit of Flagstones. Area 123 acres. Population 84 (1841); 74 (1851); 52 (1861); 55 (1891); 24 (1911). Number of houses: 16 (1841); 14 (1851); 11 (1861); 11 (1891); 6 (1911). Part of Lareen Estate. There is a long history of mills and milling in this townland. There were iron, flax and timber mills here. The water wheels and the mill race at Gallagher's are still intact. One of the great corn grindstones now forms the altar stone in the Franciscan Friary at Multyfarnham, where Brother Hugh Gallagher of Mullinaleck is a member. The derivation of the name of the townland could also be Muileann na Leice = The Flaggy Mill. The townland is situated to the north of Mullinaleck Bridge and the River Drowes.