We went out to a weekend festival on Clare Island in August 1990

and on the boat back on a perfect autumn evening the green and red of mayo was conceived with well known Galway free-spirited minstrel jarir al-majar. It became a song about a year later



The Green and Red of Mayo

I can see it still

It's soft and craggy bogland

It's tall majestic hills

Where the ocean kisses Ireland

And the waves carress it's shore

The feeling it came over me

To stay forever more

Forever more



From it's rolling coastal waters

I can see Croagh Patrick's peak

Where one Sunday every Summer

The pilgrims climb the reek

Where Saint Patrick in it's solitude

Looked down across Clew Bay

With a ringing of his bell

Called the faithful there to pray

There to pray

Take me to Clare Island

The home of Granuaile

It's waters harbour fishes

From the herring to the whale

And now I must depart it

And reality is plain

May the time not pass so slowly

Before I set sail again

Set sail again



Copyright: jarir al-majarl.morand.carton