The Flower of Finae - Karan Casey & John Doyle

Bright red is the sun o'er the waves of Lough Sheelin

A cool gentle breeze o'er the mountains is stealing

But fair round the islets the small ripples play

But fairer than all is the flower of Finae

Her hair is like night and her eyes like grey morning

She trips o'er the heather as if it's touch scorning

But her heart and her lips are as mild as May Day

Young Eily Mc Mahon is the flower of Finae

Who down the hillside like wild deer runs fleeter

And who on the lakeside is hastening to greet her

Who but Fergus O'Farrell that fiery young gay

The darling and pride of the flower of Finae

One kiss and one clasp and one wild look of gladness

But why does it change all of a sudden to sadness

He has told his sad fortune he can no longer stay

He must leave his poor Eily all alone in Finae

For Fergus O'Farrell was true to his sire-land

But the strong hand of tyranny were drove in from Ireland

He joins the brigade in the wars far away

But he vows he'll return to the flower of Finae

Fought at Cremona she hears of his story

He fought at Casano she's proud of his glory

Yet sadly she sings siubhail a ruin all the day

Oh come home my darling come home to Finae

Long years have passed till she's nigh broken hearted

Her reel and her rock and her flax she has parted

She sails with the wild geese to Flanders away

And leaves her poor parents alone in Finae

Lord Clare on the field of Ramillies is charging

Before him the Sassanach squadrons enlarging

Behind him the Cravats their sections display

Beside him rides Fergus and he shouts for Finae

On the slopes of La Judoigne the Frenchmen are flying

Lord Clare and his squadrons the foe still defying

Outnumbered and wounded retreat in array

And bleeding rides Fergus and he thinks of Finae

In the cloisters of Ypres a banner is swaying

And by it a pale weeping maiden is praying

That flag's the sole trophy of Ramillies' fray

This nun is poor Eily the flower of Finae