Caherciveen

Does the white mist shroud the Calvary on Knocknadobhar hill

Do the seals sunbathe at Mannix Point on the rosks at low tide still

Behind Beginnish Isle when the scarlet sunsinks down to hide

Does she cast a million dancing diamonds on the evening tide

When the breeze that strokes the seas of Iveragh breathe on the shore

My boat will ride the sunset tide for Valentia Isle once more

Hear the rigging tapping as the spars are flapping when the gaff  is hoisted high

Then I watch the mainsail blossom with the day’s last whispering sigh

In Caherciveen

When Poisti na Graine Sunshine Children danced out in the street

Where you in the crowd that stopped to watch their chattering clattering feet

And did you hear a young girl sing of the days of the Black and Tan

And the boys of the Barr na Straide who went hunting for the Wran.

Hear the music spring from the fingers that never seem to tire

On fiddles, mandolins, guitars at Mortimer’s turf fire

Does your toe start tapping to the rhythm of a gentle bodhran beat

As the room is warmed by music and the sweetscent of the peat

In Caherciveen

From Bray Head see the Skellig castles stand out on the sea

As they guard the fishing boats that plough their way to Portmagee

Or take the track to Doulas Head above the crashing spray

Where on a bracken bed we lay and gazed on Dingle Bay

Does the white mist shroud the Calvary on Knocknadobhar hill

Do the seals sunbathe at Mannix Point on the rosks at low tide still

Behind Beginnish Isle when the scarlet sunsinks down to hide

Does she cast a million dancing diamonds on the evening tide

In Caherciveen

Refrain

In Caherciveen

Let me take you to the places I have been

Let me tell you of the sights that I have seen

When I left my workday load

And took the winding road

To Caherciveen

Bill Dwyer (September 2002)