The Beach at Doolough

Bones were found on Doolough beach

Famine graves they said

And children who had failed to thrive

And joined the un-mourned dead

And jelly fish we came across

As we played upon that shore

And enjoyed sea breezes in our face

Blown in from old Faulmore

And Doolough was my granny’s place

My mother’s mother’s town

A quiet stretch a sandy beach

For us to play and clown

1950s was the time

Just ten years since the war

And daddy working down the mine

Had left war cares afar

But crouched upon the Doolough strand

As we played among the dunes

I wonder what his mind’s eye saw

And his ears heard then what tunes

For desert sands were once his home

And desert heat his day

And he saw corpses on the tide

On a beach in Normandy

These visions oft disturbed his nights

And woke him in the dark

The fear of foes and wartime frights

Forever left its mark

But Ireland’s soft and gentle ways

And the welcome pint of plain

Helped soothe the mind and calm the days

When demons lurked again

God bless the sands on Doolough beach

God bless our forebears dear

God bless our siblings still in reach

Our cousins far and near

May gentle winds caress your face

Calm waters reach your shore

May the gentle sun on Erris shine

Doolough for evermore

Brian Fahy

28 March 2021