My Heart’s Tonight In Ireland

Andy Irvine

In the town of Scariff the sun was shining in the sky
When Willie Clancy played his pipes and the tears welled in my eyes
Many years have passed and gone since the times we had there
But my heart’s tonight in Ireland in the sweet County Clare

My heart tonight is far away across the rolling sea
In the sweet Miltown Malbay it is there I’d love to be
So long ago and far away but nothing can compare
My heart’s tonight in Ireland in the sweet County Clare

That August in Kilrush when the rain was lashing down
And our hotel was that haybarn on the outskirts of town
We were all sick and feverish and Dolan had the flu
But Johnny produced some whiskey and the sun came shining through

Those nights in Sixmilebridge when the songs and music flowed
And it came to closing time sure the lights were turned down low
And the sergeant from Kilkishen he would buy us all one more
And we never left that pub before the clock was striking four

Lahinch and Ennistymon, Liscannor and Kilkee
But best of all was Miltown when the music flowed so free
Willie Clancy in the County Clare I’m ever in your debt
For the sights and sounds of yesterday are shining memories yet

Andy remembers the early days of Sweeney’s Men in the sixties. Dolan and Johnny are fellow band members Joe Dolan and Johnny Moynihan.