The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0033B, Page 10_051
National Folklore Collection, UCD.
Greta St. George, Ballinderreen NS
No 1
I’m thinking tonight of Kilcolgan
That village far over the sea
To the cottage wherein I was born
My memory it brings back to me
Im thinking tonight of Kilcolgan
No 2
The stile that I often climbed over
The garden where many flowers grew
And mother so patiently waiting
How void was the picture to view
No 3
Kilcolgan I’m often times thinking
If you look as I saw you of yoe’r
For its twenty long years since I left it
And came to Americas shore
No 4
I wonder If there’s any changes
How many the friends I should know
That I used to ramble about with
In the dear happy days long ago.
No 5
Is Kilcolgan castle still standing
Where I looked on with wonders so great
And the house of Tyrone not far distant
Where dwelt the St. Georges in state
No 6
The demaine with acres so many
Got round by a very high wall
The avenue where oft I did wander
With trees so stately and tall
No 7
Does the tide still come upon the river
How often I’ve watched it of yore
Does the boatmen from Old Connemara
Bring over the turf to our shore
No 8
Connemara I ne’er will forget you
Where gaedhlach is spoken go leór
Where fish and potatoes are plenty
And a welcome is always in store.
No 9.
A me will I e’re see you again
Shall I visit the land of my birth
Far dear to my heart is old Ireland
The dear little Isle of the blest
No 10
Shall I e’er see the Kilcolgan I know not
And still cherish hopes that may
And yet cross the stormy Atlantic
And sail into dear Galway bay.
No 11
To visit the home of my childhood
Once more to lay foot on that shore
And hear that glad welcome god save
As I often times heard it before.
No 12
I’ll still keep on hoping and longing
I’ll never give up in despair
But patiently watch and keep waiting
For the ship that will carry me there
This song was written by a man named John Wates
The Burren and Beyond 