St Patrick's Day

Today is St Patrick's Day, my namesake's day. The first time I celebrated with Eamonn, in 1969, he took me to a Ceili. It was there that I learned the Irish idea of dancing involved in being flung around at great speed to a tunes called The Seige of Ennis, or the Walls of Limerick - very warlike. I remember feeling as though my wrist was sprained from the un-natural grip used in Irish dancing. Needless to say, I was never keen to dance with Eamonn again. 

St Patrick's Day is one of those times when the squall of the storm of grieving hits me from out of the blue. There is Irish music everywhere today, reminding me that one of the Songs chosen by Eamonn's friends for his funeral, was the lovely, haunting, The Parting Glass.

LYRICS

Of all the money that e'er I had

I spent it in good company

And all the harm I've ever done

Alas it was to none but me

And all I've done for want of wit

To mem'ry now I can't recall

So fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be to you all

Fill to me the parting glass

And drink a health whate'er befalls

And gently rise and softly call

Good night and joy be to you all

Of all the comrades that e'er I had

They're sorry for my going away

And all the sweethearts that e'er I had

They'd wish me one more day to stay

But since it fell unto my lot

That I should rise and you should not

I gently rise and softly call

Good night and joy be to you all

Fill to… .......