Song of the Day - 17th March

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!

Although I am not Irish by birth, my great-grandparents on my dad's side did come across from Ireland around the turn of the 19th/20th century. And I have the hair!

I think Saint Patrick is one of the most widely celebrated saints , certainly in the English-speaking world so the day itself needs little introduction. 

However, I have found a few facts about Saint Patrick that you may not know.

Saint Patrick wasn't actually Irish. Despite being the patron saint of Ireland, he was born in Britain in either Scotland or Wales (accounts tend to vary on that point). His parents, Calpurnius and Conchessa, were both Roman citizens and his mother gave birth to him in 385AD.

As a teenager, St. Patrick was kidnapped by a pirate raiding party and sold into slavery in Ireland. As a slave, he looked after and herded sheep for many years before fleeing to a monastery in England. While there, he became a devout follower of Christianity and was ordained a bishop, after which he returned to Ireland as a missionary.

Saint Patrick isn't technically a saint! While he's been given the title in popular lore, Saint Patrick was never actually officially canonized. However many still recognise his contributions to the Catholic church and he remains a spiritual figure to this day.

I have actually written two songs for Saint Patrick's Day. One is about the man himself (and would probably be best categorised as a drinking song!) and the other is more of an "Ode to Ireland" although the poem is called St Patrick's Day. 

The second of the two is the one I am sharing today. It was written by Canadian journalist, author and poet Jean Blewett (with a chorus added by myself). The melody is strongly influenced by Irish traditional folk music, opening with a mezzo-soprano solo before the choir quietly joins in.

This song is being beta tested by my friends at Sound Waves Choir.

St. Patrick's Day

By Jean Blewett (chorus added by Julie Reilly)

There's an Isle, a green Isle, set in the sea,

Here's to the Saint that blessed it!

And here's to the billows wild and free

That for centuries have caressed it!

CHORUS:

Oh Ireland, my Ireland, the land of the brave

Where rolling green hills meet the shimmering wave.

In story and song, your spirit soars free,

Forever bound to your beauty I’ll be.

Here's to the day when the men that roam

Send longing eyes o'er the water!

Here's to the land that still spells home

To each loyal son and daughter!

CHORUS

Here's to old Ireland - fair, I ween,

With the blue skies stretched above her!

Here's to her shamrock warm and green,

And here's to the hearts that love her!

CHORUS