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Irish National Day of Commemoration Ceremonies.

A National Day of Commemoration saw ceremonies being held at several locations across Ireland this morning. This morning’s events were organised to honoured all Irish men and Irish women who died in all wars including those who lost their lives while on service with the United Nations and other international organisations, in the service of peace.

A commemoration ceremony held at Dublin’s Royal Hospital, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, was attended by Irish President Mr Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Mr Simon Harris. Others attending included members of the Government; the Council of State; the Diplomatic Corps; Defence Forces; veteran’s organisations, the judiciary and representatives from Northern Ireland.
They were joined by relatives of those who sadly died in past wars or on UN peace keeping service, together with relatives of 1916 rising leaders.

Today’s Dublin’s Royal Hospital ceremony included a wreath-laying by President Higgins on behalf of the people of Ireland, before ending with a fly-past by the Irish Air Corps.

Other ceremonies which took place at locations around Ireland, including Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork city; Galway University, Co. Galway; Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny City; Limerick City; City Hall Sligo Town, Co. Sligo and at the John Condon Memorial, situated in Waterford City.

A Song For A Sunday.

It’s About Time.

Lyrics and Vocals: American country and folk singer, songwriter and actor, the late John Denver (1943-1997).

It’s About Time.

There’s a full moon over India and Gandhi lives again.
And who’s to say you have to lose for someone else to win.
In the eyes of all the people the look is much the same,
For the first is just the last one, when you play a deadly game.
It’s about time we realize it, we’re all in this together.
It’s about time we find out, it’s all of us or none.
It’s about time we recognize it, these changes in the weather.
It’s about time, it’s about changes, it’s about time.

There’s a light in the Vatican window for all the world to see,
And a voice cries in the wilderness and sometimes he speaks for me.
I suppose I love him most of all when he kneels to kiss the land,
With his lips upon our Mother’s breast, he makes his strongest stand.
It’s about time we start to see it, the Earth is our only home.
It’s about time we start to face it, we can’t make it here all alone.
It’s about time we start to listen to the voices in the wind.
It’s about time, it’s about changes, it’s about time.

There’s a man who is my brother, I just don’t know his name,
But I know his home and family, because I know we feel the same,
And it hurts me when he’s hungry and when his children cry,
I too am a father, that little one is mine.
It’s about time we begin it, to turn the world around.
It’s about time we start to make it, the dream we’ve always known.
It’s about time we start to live it, the family of man.
It’s about time, it’s about changes, it’s about time.
It’s about peace and it’s about plenty, it’s about time.
It’s about you and me together and it’s about time.

END.

Nancy Spain.

Lyrics: Irish poet, singer and Dublin native, the late Barney Rush.
Vocals: Co. Offaly born country and Irish genre singer and entertainer Johnny McEvoy.

In reality Nancy Spain [Nancy Brooker Spain (1917-1964)] was a colourful and extremly talented English broadcaster and journalist, a columnist for the Daily Express; for ‘She’ magazine and for the News of the World.
Nancy lived openly from the 1940’s to the 1960’s with her female lover, the editor of ‘She’, Joan Laurie (“Jonnie”).

In 1964, Nancy and her partner were both sadly killed with three others, in a light aircraft accident, near Aintree racecourse, while on their way to the English Grand National.
Ms Spain was travelling there to cover the 1964 Grand National, which was taking place on that same day.

When author Barney Rush was writing this love song, featured below, he just needed a name to tie it all together and Nancy Spain was simply the name that he chose, as most fitting for his lyrics.

Nancy Spain.

English broadcaster and journalist Nancy Spain.

Of all the stars that ever shone,
Not one twinkles like your pale blue eyes,
Like golden corn at harvest, is your hair.
Sailing in my boat, the wind,
Gently blows and fills my sails,
Your sweet-scented breath is everywhere.
Daylight peeping through the curtains,
Of the passing night time, is your smile,
The sun in the sky is like your laugh,
Come back to me, my Nancy,
Linger for just a little while.
Since you left these shores, I’ve known no peace nor joy.
No matter where I wander I’m still haunted by your name,
The portrait of your beauty stays the same.
Standing by the ocean wondering where you’ve gone,
If you’ll return again.
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?
On that day in Spring, when snow starts to melt,
And streams to flow,
With the birds, I’ll sing a song.
In the while I’ll wander.
Down by bluebell grove, where wild flowers grow,
And I’ll hope that lovely Nancy will be there.
No matter where I wander I’m still haunted by your name,
The portrait of your beauty stays the same.
Standing by the ocean wondering where you’ve gone,
If you’ll return again,
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?
No matter where I wander I’m still haunted by your name,
The portrait of your beauty stays the same.
Standing by the ocean wondering where you’ve gone,
If you’ll return again,
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?

END.

Matthew.

“Dhá fháid é an lá, tiocfaidh an tráthnóna”. “However long the day, evening will come”.

Lyrics and Vocals: Irish ballad singer, entertainer and songwriter Johnny McEvoy.

Matthew.

What are you thinking of Matthew my friend,
As you sit in your room all alone.
You can see the bright lights in the city below,
In the place where you once called your home,
And I’m sure you can still hear the laughter and noise,
Of your kids as they run and they play,
And you thought you were doing the best that you could,
But it just didn’t work out that way.

Chorus.
Just didn’t work out, just didn’t work out,
Just didn’t work out that way.
You thought you were doing the best that you could,
But it just didn’t work out that way.

And your mother’s long gone and your father is too,
And there’s times that you wish you were dead,
And this morning the nurse took your whiskey away,
When she said you’re not right in the head,
And when your wife calls you can’t think of her name,
And her visits get shorter each day,
And you wish in your heart you could walk out that door,
But it just doesn’t work out that way.

Repeat Chorus.

I can see you’ve been thinking again of the past,
And the place where the tall cedar grows.
You remember the evening you planted that tree,
But I’m sure that nobody else does,
And it grew to the sky, as the years drifted by,
And I’m sure it’s still standing today,
But Matthew it’s somebody else’s tree now,
Cause it just didn’t work out that way.

Repeat Chorus.

So close your eyes Matthew, say good night to the world,
There’s a better one waiting for you.
The time here is over, it’s time to move on,
There’s nothing here left you can do,
But you could have moved mountains and danced on the moon,
You could have turned night into day,
And you thought you were doing the best that you could,
But it just didn’t work out that way.

Repeat Chorus Twice.

END.

Boulder To Birmingham.

Lyrics: American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader and activist Ms Emmylou Harris and American songwriter and singer Mr William Thomas Danoff (Starland Vocal Band).
Vocals: Irish actress, singer, Laurence Olivier Award winner, three time BAFTA Award winner and an Academy Award nominee, the extremely attractive and talented Ms Jessie Buckley.

Boulder To Birmingham.

[Incidently, the distance between Boulder and Birmingham USA is 1294.8 miles by road.]

Ms Jessie Buckley.

I don’t want to hear a love song.
I got on this airplane just to fly,
And I know there’s life below me,
But all that you could show me,
Was the prairie and the sky.
And I don’t wanna hear a sad story,
Full of heartbreak and desire.
Last time I felt like this,
I was in the wilderness and the canyon was on fire.
I stood on the mountain,
In the night and I watched it burn,
I watched it burn, I watched it burn.
I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham.
I would hold my life in his saving grace.
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham,
If I thought I could see, I could see your face.
Well, you really got me this time,
And the hardest part is knowin’ I’ll survive.
I’ve come to listen for the sounds,
Of the trucks as they move down,
Out of ninety five,
And pretend that it’s the ocean,
Runnin’ down to wash me clean, to wash me clean,
Baby, don’t you know what I mean?
I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham.
I would hold my life in his saving grace.
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham,
If I thought I could see, I could see your face.
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham,
If I thought I could see, I could see your face,
If I thought I could see, I could see your face.

END.