Gortnamona

Long, long ago in the woods of Gortnamona,
I thought the birds were singing in the blackthorn tree;
But oh! it was my heart that was ringing, ringing, ringing,
With the joy that you were bringing Omy love to me.

Long, long ago, in the woods of Gortnamona,
I thought the wind was sighing round the blackthorn tree;
But oh! it was the banshee that was crying, crying, crying,
And I knew my love was dying far across the sea.

Now if you go through the woods of Gortnamona,
You hear the raindrops creeping through the blackthorn tree.
But oh! it is the tears I am weeping, weeping, weeping,
For the loved one that is sleeping far away from me.

Prose, Poems & Parodies of Percy French, 1980, Helicon Limited, Dublin.

Tickets

Early Booking Special Offer

Each whole day covers:

  • Three / Four Lectures
  • Afternoon Recital
  • Tea / Coffee / Homemade Cakes
  • Wednesday 23 July €50
  • Thursday 24 July €50
  • Friday 25 July €50
  • Secondary/graduate student: €20 per day
  • Child under 12, when accompanied by an Adult ticket holder: €10 per day

Don’t miss out, Festival tickets sell out quickly!

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The 17th Percy French Festival

The Quest for Authenticity

23rd/24th/25th July 2025

At Castlecoote House

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