Flynn Clan - poems and stories

This is a song about the Flynn family as we arrived in the world. It is sung to the tune of "Lanigan's Ball"

In Baile Ath Cliath Granda O'Rourkes daughter

had found her own Fergus and be-come his wife

Along had come Bernie and then came young Tony

When Geraldine arrived 'twas a wonderful life

Chorus

All the neighbours said they were gorgeous

Such lovely kids they never had seen

You must be proud to have garsoons like 'em

But three is enough if you know what I mean

When young Fergus came his da's chest expanded

'cos now he had someone to carry his name 

With little Fiona the bells of Iona

were peeling in praise of her beauty and fame

Chorus

All the neighbours said they were gorgeous

Such lovely kids they never had seen

You must be proud to have garsoons like 'em

But five is enough if you know what I mean

Then there was a break and 48 months passed

and some people thought our Ma would have no more

But the pride of the nation, the cream of creation

was waiting his chance to come in the door

Dr Wilson arrived and said to "Boil water,

tonight will be born a Lord or a Khan"

Now jump into action because them contractions

are saying we'll soon see a hell of a man

Chorus

Another four years brought tears up in heaven

for small angel Cormac about to de-tank

The nurse said amazingly cute number seven has

something about him that looks like a yank

Chorus

We're going to move to a place called Killester

Said Da to Ma one night so let's celebrate.

A short while thereafter mid lashings of laughter

Our Aideen arrived and all said it was great

Chorus

All the neighbours said they were gorgeous

Such lovely kids they never had seen

You must be proud to have garsoons like 'em

But eight is enough if you know what I mean

Killester was quiet and full of young ladies

with buns in their ovens and babes in their arms

Ma said let's not tarry we'll show them with Barry

That Flynn babies are still the ones with the charms

Chorus

All the neighbours said she was lucky

to have lovely children all handsome and fine

Kathleen they said, you'll have to make more Flynns

But no said our Ma I've enough with me nine

- Lorcan 

The Journey The day that we left it was raining It’d been bucketing down for some days We tried to drum up optimism for the journey that stretched ´fore our gaze Yes 900 miles is a long road to be driven in thunder and rain So just as we got in the gluistean* we looked up to heaven again car* “Can’t You give us a break just this one time We promise that we will be good” And d’yaknow someone up there reacted ‘Cos maybe they thought that we would We drove dry through Holland and Belgium It rained just a bit in North France Occasional showers throughout England We began to believe we’d a chance At midday we reached the Welsh border and the sunshine peeped out from a cloud We let out a Celtic Yahooyah and we screamed and we shouted aloud The lightening dragons retreated The loud Gods of thunder drew back Come over to Ireland said Sunshine Of me now there will be no lack The Arrival The sight of Howth Head from the ferry As you pull slowly towards Dublin Bay Has been oft poemed about in great writings “With justice” is all I will say. But Dublin Bay in its beauty does not prepare one for the shock of the noises and traffic and chaos that’s seen in the new Dublin docks An hour and a half took the ferry to cross the great, wide Irish sea It took us two hours from the North Wall to Killester, me mother to see	But when we got there it was worth it Just to see the wide width of her smile She hugged us and kissed us in welcome and the world was alright for a while "Sit down for some tea at the table Would you like some auld lettuce and ham There’s a nice piece of cake in the kitchen Sit down here and talk to your Mam." "And how is Aunt Sadie and Paddy? And how is Aunt Yvonne and John? And when will the Aussies arrive here? ‘Can’t wait to see Catherine and Tom" The sun was still grinning in heaven when we took to the road to head south As we drove down the street where I grew up A smile creased the sides of my mouth It’s easy to get to “Le Ceile” Just head towards Blackrock’s what they say Turn left when you hit N11 Turn right at the turn after Bray Well that’s what we did and we found it On the Laragh road just outside town The mountainous welcome that met us Left us laughing and yelling like clowns Next morning at breakfast in Wicklow which Betty prepared with such love We looked at the shining blue heaven And thanked our good Friend up above. The Meetings Anthony said “If this keeps up We can spend the day on Silver Strand” Aideen and Des have a tent there” We said, “Yes! That would be grand” And that’s what we did and a grand day was then had by one and by all We went for a swim and Bar B Qued and talked of the coming great ball
Helen, Prianka and Sandra were soon yapping away like old mates Paul was surrounded by beauty “Dad, I think Ireland is great” Some manual labour the next morn on Deidre and Dylan’s new pad I mixed the concrete, Paul barrowed While Anthony laid the new path We called in to Geraldine in Artane On the way from the airport that day We’d collected Ma Edith Senoga And there was just so much to say “Hello, I am so glad to meet you” said big Liam “and this Liam’s my son” Oisin is off in Espana And this one right here is our Fionn “Fergus and Ronan will meet you in the course of the days I am sure And your heart will jump out to Xavier Just seeing him is a great cure” And this gorgeous creature is Sineid She’s our sister Aideen’s big girl Ma Senoga repeated the strange names with her mind in a bit of a whirl We then took her up to Killester Where the two grandmas finally met The feeling of warmth hasn’t left me and nor do I want it to yet The next day we went for Jelena and finally we were all there Her arrival was somewhat belated And almost gave Paul first grey hair. "The short way to Chris and to Fergus is to drive left across Sally Gap The sight of Lough Dan is enchanting Just drive straight and don’t mind the map." "Turn right at the first sign for Tallagh Turn right at the lights past the pub Turn right at the next lights and third right" And you will find this south-side Dub	We sat down to rashers of bacon And sausages, cheese and sliced ham And laughter and chit-chat and stories And then we walked round by the dam Niall introduced his new girlfriend And Daren and Maren their child Colm and Paul and young Ciaran Soon had their young cousin beguiled The next day we started to head west to see the great, tall Cliffs of Moher Still later we travelled round Dingle And collected sea-shells on the shore Angela’d been there with Barry We saw their new house out in Rush The view of the Bay from their garden stilled our voices down into a hush Eimear and Donal and Helen were all three quite soon the best mates They played hand-in-hand in the garden We laughed ‘cos we thought it was great Time is a rushing we realized When somebody said it in shock Our holiday is now half over "Believe me just look at the clock" We went to McClorys on Wednesday while A and B got Antoinette Cliona arrived from Roscommon But everyone wasn’t there yet Cormac and Lesley and Dana and Gary her handsome young man arrived on the Friday in Grandmas all bursting and full of elan On Thursday we’d gone north to Antrim to visit the Giant’s Causeway The Irish were always great builders Our Mama Senoga did say Then Saturday dawned with excitement That night was to be the big meet With Bernie and Peter from England Arrivals were almost complete
We were all very sorry Fiona And Tara and Karen and Jim and Elizabeth and our own Bobby Weren’t there for the Jamboree Flynn It would have been great to see Jayden in the arms of our Erin go Breah We want to say "Cead mile failte" to the new little Flynn and his Da The Hooley But still there were one or two others And soon all our minds were abuzz Meeting Rory and Brian and the Tommies And Cathrine, the cute Aussie Fuzz And they brought along a few children and we all told each other our name Then Brida and Eileen and Declan and Simon all joined in the game “Do you know who I am, I remember when you were this high to me knee Ah there’s Aunt Yvonne I’ll go over and kiss her and greet her with glee” “And there’s cousin Kevin and Ava All this way with their kids from the States” “And are you the son of Aunt Kathleen? Said Mary, “now don’t you look great” A room full of strangers assembled And really there wasn’t a chance That we could melt into one unit Well! That was until the first dance. There’s something in being a Paddy There’s something that makes us feel proud There’s something that makes us act different that makes us stand out in a crowd Well everyone there was a Paddy The black and the brown and the white We danced and we sang and we chin-wagged Boy we had a hooley that night	We started with Irish Folk-dancing Some young girls that leapt round like elves “And now folks the auld Walls of Limerick But this time we’ll do it ourselves” We hopped and we skipped and we sweated And Cormac twice stood on me toe Till finally, exhausted, ‘twas over “Come on folks lets have one more go” Now I (and I’ll be quite truthful) If I had been given a choice Would’ve gladly put five of me knuckles down the throat of the kid with that voice. I looked round to find the young culprit to say “Have respect for me age" And there to my most great amazement Stood Kathleen and Tom on the stage They crossed and they swung like teenagers We raised up a hip hip hurrah Come on Ma you’re like a young Colleen Come on Tom you Buichaill go breah And then to the sounds of Uganda Some backsides were given a life They shook and they bounced and contorted and I felt so proud of my wife The dancers of Egypt were famous With Tutankamun long ago We now know the reason in Ireland ‘Cos Ava put on a great show And more dancing followed and singing With Tom Watson crooning his way And juggling and laughter and yapping At midnight we wanted to stay But even the best nights are over And sometime it’s time to go home We’ll all take fond memories with us Where’ere on this planet we roam Lorcan 23 August 2000

Deidre and Dylan

Dublin dollies dancing in the mountains

Early morning giggles in the glen

Irish folk discoursing in the local

Raucous singing jingling now and then

Ditties, jokes and craic to raise the ceiling

Recollecting moments that we'd made

Effervescent, lively, loving laughter

Fabricating memories that won't fade.

Little girls grow up and leave us hoping

Yearning always for what once has been

Needing memories means we're growing older

Nicer nieces there have never been

Dylan is the one who's come to take her

You should know what lucky lad you are

Live your life with passion and with pleasure

Abhor the normal. Reach out for the stars.

Never stop too long to count your losses

Men who do must take what's second best

Chances come along - but very seldom

Good to know you took the very best

Rare's the chance that brought you two together

Abide in luck. May love be in your home

Today your names become entwined together

Henceforth they are written in a poem.

Love and best wishes from Germany from Lorcan, Betty, Paul, Bobby and Helen.