One of Eamon's songs from his CD "Word of Spring" I shall try to follow with a couple more of his songs. FAREWELL MAYO (E. Friel Elm Grove Music) When the schools got out for summer I got started On the long awaited journey to the west. I was feeling so excited and light hearted I was heading for the place that I loved best. And the bus said "Sligo" on the destination On down through Barnsmore Gap and Billintra, Then you got another bus at Sligo station And the Freestate writing spelt out Ballina. At Enniscrone the broad Atlantic Meant that you hadn't far to go And when you saw the top of Nephin You knew you'd landed in Mayo, God bless Mayo Friendly hands to take you hand and say he's bigger Hefty arms to hoist you high and hug you hard. Take the road through Crossmolina to the river And the sideroad takes you back to Garranard. And I knew every windy corner Of the little fields below And every ripple of that river Cross the stepping stones I'd go, There in Mayo. When the day came to go back my heart was bleeding With a grief that seems relentless when you're small, They say every child should have his share of Eden But a city child needs Eden most of all. Back to the darkening streets of Derry Broken hearted I must go, Far from the splendour and the silence And the wonder of Mayo, Farewell Mayo.