Eagle Island off the Erris coast
A storm lashed rock even at the best of times
Supplied by local men and their proud boast
To keep the light protecting in harsh climes
And Scotchport quiet inlet from the sea
A rock protected basin from the deep
Where boats put out supplies there for the light
A dangerous adventure for to keep
In ’37 two of those men drowned
Taken by the sea in angry gale
A memorial now stands upon the ground
Where local families gathered there to wail
And further down the coast there stands Blacksod
A lighthouse and a weather station room
It sent a vital sign to Overlord
And altered history for the 6th of June
And out in that dark sea there lies Blackrock
Below the looming shadow Achill Head
It’s there a helicopter came to grief
The sea has not yet given up all her dead
This lovely coast in sunny weather’s fine
But storms can come so sudden it’s a crime
Like the men of Inishgea who perished in the sea
That evening when they thought they had the time
In our life too we need a warning light
Of changing weather and the coming night
When darkness comes when storms come rolling in
Let family and friendship keep us safe within
Brian Fahy
15 April 2021
Erris Poetry 