The Flannel Red

by éilís kennedy

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about

We were often told the story of our great grandfather , Mícheál Mhuiris Ó Catháin ( Keane) who drowned at Brandon Creek., a cove at the foot of Mount Brandon in West Kerry , Ireland.
He met my great grandmother Mary Kavanagh ( pictured , right ) when she came to teach sewing on the Great Blasket Island, and they subsequently moved to the mainland and raised their family. The literary lore of the Great Blaskets makes reference to a superstition that my great grandmother had sewn a piece of red flannel inside his jacket , to keep him safe on the sea. For anyone connected to that life ,its easy to imagine that any small comfort would be welcome to a young wife at home. The story goes that she confessed to her priest that she had this talisman and he, as was customary , led her to believe that this was a sin and urged that she remove it immediately.

Very shortly after , Micheál drowned, within sight of the shore after a successful day of mackerel fishing in a naomhóg ( currach )with two friends. The fish were plentiful that year and the load overturned the boat. His loss must have been a huge blow to his family.

His likeness is said to have appeared to some Blasket fisherman while out fishing miles away , and they immediately knew he had drowned.

lyrics

The Flannel Red

Music and Lyrics by Éilís Kennedy

From his island home he’d followed her

to dwell on mainland soil.

Her nimble hands and his strong arms

did daily provide and toil

As Fionn’s hero in days of yore

from Saints Cove to the Sound

So swift of limb and skilled with oar

No equal could be found

With steady oar I’ll row and row

From sea to rocky shore

Between the heavens up above and the swell below

2

In bright days of early spring

The wild abundant shoals

Entice him out onto the deep

Drive hunger from the door.

It was her lot to sew and pray

For man’s the long ,long hour

But joy to hear him gently lift

The latch upon the door

3

The travelling woman one day came

And urged in whispers low

Take this piece of flannel red

Unto his coat you’ll sew

And he will row and safely row

From sea to rocky shore

This charm will guide him surely home

To you, his brightest flower

4

For many days and days at sea

To reap what nature sow’d

Though conscience teas’d

Her heart was light

No furrow on her brow

And by the evening fireside

The children gathered round

His island tales of shipwreck dares

And games on the White Strand

But to her priest she has confessed

His stern rebuke alarmed

With nimble fingers must undo

and free the sinful charm……………..

In calm of day three men did row

The heavy weight aboard

It was to be a deadly catch

No wind or breeze did blow

One did sink ,the other saved,

He’s tried to swim ashore

But on that day oh he was lost

Her love, and brightest flower

And on that calm day out on the Sound

his childhood friends have seen

It’s our old pal , now haul the net!

The heavens and deep between

credits

released January 1, 2017
William Coulter – Guitar
Edwin Huizinga - Violin
Damien Mullane – Accordion

Aria di Salvio – Cello
Martin Brunsden - Bass

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about

éilís kennedy Dingle, Ireland

Singing , writing , composing ,learning, teaching.
,Amhráin , Béarla & Gaelainn from the South-West of Ireland.

New Album 'So Ends this day' out now

eiliskennedymusic.ie

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