The Liberator 

This song appeared in an excellent book about local history and lore (Cahersiveen ‘The town that climbs the mountain’) by local historian Junior Murphy. It was composed by a local gentleman, Jimmy Moriarty. His composition celebrates the achievements of the crew of the seine boat ‘The Liberator’ in 1969 after winning both the Cahersiveen and Dingle regattas her first year in the water. The boat was built by the legendary boat builder and oarsman Johnny Mahony of Ardcost. Johnny Mahony himself has been immortalised in numerous songs. The following amusing report by Michael Hilliard appeared in ‘The Kerryman’ on the 29th July 1972. “There was a smile on Caherciveen boat builder Johnny Mahony’s face last Sunday when he saw the local boat ‘The Liberator’ win the seine boat race at the Caherciveen Regatta. It wouldn’t have been too hard to please the seventy-five year old builder because all the boats in this the main race of the day, were built by him at one time or another! And he is still turning them out fast and furious.”

Air: The old orange flute

In the year '69 a great seine boat was built

For my home town of Caher with a crew of great strength

And though scarcely built she's made fame and renown

By winning her maiden race held in the town.

(Chorus)

So cheers to the district of Caherciveen

To the great "Liberator" the best to be seen.

May God bless her crew and long may they reign

As champion oarsmen for pulling a seine.

Her crew it consists of thirteen right good men

She’s captained by Sean Murt with him I’ll begin

There’s Foley and Hussey and Donal Casur

And Brothers O’Shea john and Mike from the Coon

There’s Sugrue and Connor and a John Donoghue

Moriarty and Golden and Connell there too

And to round up the crew sure I have just one more

His name is John Bowler the man from Foilmore

She started at home and ‘Oh Boy’ did she win

But Valentia’s tough waters sure they proved a sin

With the waves rolling high, that tough course she did face

And just barely beaten secured second place.

Next venue was Dingle, ‘twas there we did go

Sure our great “Liberator” took over that show,

Though alas! Broke our oar, she held to the course

And won that superb race without any force.

With regattas now raging right ‘round Kerry’s coast

So to all boats competing let’s here drink a toast,

Long life and good health to you, John Mahony

For your great “Liberator” has conquered the sea

Chorus

Jimmy Moriarty