One of my favorite Irish songs,

You may travel far far from your own native home, Far away oer the mountains far away oer the foam                                                                                                                         But of all the fine places that I’ve ever seen,There’s none to compare with The Cliffs of Dooneen.

This first line of the famous Irish song, The Cliffs of Dooneen has been the reason for many a trip to Irelands rugged and unspoiled west coast. I’ll have to say that we Americans of Irish descent are especially vulnerable to Irish songs. I am guilty of this, it’s a guilty pleasure though. To spend a week or ten days along the Irish coast and appreciating the result of God’s work in this world adds some well needed perspective in a sometimes too busy world.

Take a view oer the water fine sights you’ll see there
You’ll see the high rocky slopes on the West coast of Clare
The towns of Kilrush and Kilkee can be seen                                                                         From the high rocky slopes at The Cliffs of Dooneen

The towns of Kilrush and Kilkee can thank the humble pleasant writings of this Irish songs author Jack McAuliffe  for some great advertising. Check out the Kilrush  and Kilkee visitors web sites. You’ll find a combination of great countryside walks, beautiful views, and dolphin tours.

Its a nice place to be on a fine Summer’s day
Watching all the wild flowers that ne’er do decay
The hare and lofty pheasant are plain to be seen
Making homes for their young round The Cliffs of Dooneen
This may be my favorite verse of the song, It reminds me of long pleasant days spent in a field with no cares to weigh you down. I’ve spent time in the Powerscourt gardens in Wicklow on days that never end, the Irish summer sun seems to last forever or at least well into what would be night back home. I’ve been out on the dingle peninsula on a fine summers day and you know it to seem to transcend time and space, very rejuvenating.

Fare thee well to Dooneen fare thee well for a while
And to all the fine people I’m leaving behind 
To the streams and the meadows where late I have been
And the high rocky slopes of The Cliffs of Dooneen
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christy_moore/#share

We Americans sometimes catch some abuse for going on about our Irishness. To my Irish, born in Ireland friends, we mean no harm. We know we are not born in Ireland, that the cultures of the countries are different. But the knowing we are of Ireland, that from the melting pot that is America we are grounded and connected to that beautiful Island across the Atlantic, gives a feeling of belonging that is hard to describe. It is to the credit of so many Irish citizens and the sharing of their culture with their prodigal brethren across the sea that so many of us want to return and truly wish we could stay.

The Cliffs of Dooneen was made famous by Christy Moore,

This version I especially like the uilleann pipes in the background.

The favorite version of this Irish song though is by Paddy Reilly, God bless his soul, this singer of Irish songs is hard to beat

Cheers.