The black waters of Doolough

A silence undisturbed by those who perished here,
a poignant reminder of times gone by.
For beside the black waters of Doolough
many met their fate.

1849, the height of An Gorta Mor -the great hunger,
the potato has gone leaving famine and dysentery.
And beside the inky waters of Doolough
many met their fate.

Were it not for poor relief.
In Louisborough, Colonel Hogrove and Captain Primrose arrive,
to inspect those who claim. No shirkers here.
And beside the pitch waters of Doolough
many met their fate.

Let’s go hunting. To the Marquis of Sligo’s Delphi,
I hear the lodge looks like Greece.
And beside the inky waters of Doolough
many met their fate.

A mere 15 miles, the poor can meet us there.
So through the night 600 destitute and starving souls made the trip.
And beside the sooty waters of Doolough
many met their fate.

With rain and howling wind
they made the appointed time,
their one ray of earthly hope.
But beside the murky waters of Doolough
many met their fate.

Their poor relief refused,
many more succumbed on the return,
to leave potato ridges deserted
and children buried in the dunes.
For beside the dark waters of Doolough
many met their fate.

Many have since remembered:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
the children of Chernobyl,
Vedran Smailovic and Kim Phuc.
All have walked the walk
beside the inky waters of Doolough
where many met their fate.

And Mahatma Gandhi said:
“How can men feel themselves
honoured by the humiliation
of their fellow beings?”

For those who would prefer more facts, click here.