I would like to share this song with you on this St Patrick's day which has become an unofficial anthem of Irish sporting fans and nation at home and around the world. It is entrenched in the Irish psyche and now classified as a great sporting anthem. It strikes a cord I think against adversity as one does not always reach the promised land but one will die trying and singing until one is hoarse. As you may or may not know Irish wars were merry and the songs sad. This great ballad is sung where ever Irish sport fans gather be it on the terraces of Celtic Park in Glasgow to Lansdowne Road in Dublin to Thomand park in Limerick and all the great sporting venues of Europe where ever the Irish National Rugby Team turns up be it Melbourne Auckland Rome Paris Twickenham and last week when over 30OOO people in the freezing weather sung the Anthem at Trafalgar Square at the conclusion of the St Pats Festival Here it is and enjoy and maybe have a go. It is very effective with a group of people. By a lonely prison wall I heard the young girl calling Michael they have taken you away For you stole Trevelyns corn So the young might see the morn Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay Chorus Low lie the Fields Of Athenry Where once we watched the small freebirds fly Our Love was on the wing We had dreams and songs to sing It is so lonely round the fields of Athenry Chorus By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling Nothing matters Mary when you are free Against the famine and the Crown I rebelled they cut me down Now you must raise our child with dignity Chorus By a lonely harbour wall She watched the last star falling As the prison ship sailed out against the sky For she'll live in hope and pray For her love in Botany Bay It is so lonely round the fields of Athenry Chorus It is about a young mans struggle to feed his wife and child during the famine. Lord Tevelyn brought a supply of corn form the States. It was useless Indian corn. People were so desperate they stole the corn and were deported to Australia never to see their families again. Happy St Patrick's Day everyone If you are a Colgan From Mayo Ireland please contact me. Ciaran Colgan chggf@btinternet.com