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[00:04.69]Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and sixty, my dear and lovin' son John
[00:15.79]Your good friend the Schoolmaster Pat McNamara, so good as to write these words down.
[00:26.03]Your brothers have all gone to find work in England, the house is so empty and  sad,
[00:37.00]The crop of potatoes is sorely affected, a third to a half of them bad.
[00:47.26]And your sister Bridget and Patrick O'Donnell, are goin' to be married in June,
[00:57.81]Your mother says not to work on the railroad, and be sure to come on home soon.
[01:07.51]
[01:12.54]Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and seventy, my dear and lovin' son John
[01:22.91]Hello to your missus and to your four children, that they may grow healthy and strong
[01:33.76]Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble, I suppose he never will learn
[01:44.42]Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of and now we have nothing to burn.
[01:55.54]And Bridget is happy you named the child for her, although she's got six of her own
[02:05.93]You say you've found work, but you don't say what kind, or when you'll be comin' home.
[02:16.63]
[02:38.73]Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and eighty, dear Michael and John my sons
[02:49.37]I'm sorry to give you the very sad news that your dear old mother has gone.
[02:59.47]We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly, your brothers and Bridget were there,
[03:10.42]You don't have to worry, she died very quickly, remember her in your prayers.
[03:20.88]And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning with money he's sure to buy land
[03:31.37]For the crop has been poor and the people are selling, for any price that they can.
[03:41.77]
[04:03.89]Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety, my dear and lovin' son John
[04:14.15]I suppose that I must be close on eighty, it's thirty years since you've gone
[04:24.60]Because of all of the money you sent me, I'm still living' out of my own
[04:35.81]Michael has built himself a fine house, and Bridget's daughters have grown
[04:46.51]And thank you for sendin' your family picture, they're lovely young women and men
[04:56.82]You say you might even come for a visit, what a joy to see you again.
[05:07.76]
[05:12.12]Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety two, my dear brother John,
[05:22.46]I'm sorry I didn't write sooner, to tell you that father has gone.
[05:33.18]He was living with Brigid, she said he was cheerful and healthy right down to the end
[05:43.67]And you should have seen him play with the grandchildren, of Pat McNamara your friend.
[05:54.57]And we buried him alongside of mother, down at Kilkelly churchyard
[06:05.63]He was a strong and a feisty old man, considering that life is so hard.
[06:16.39]And it's funny the way he kept talkin' about you, he called for you at the end
[06:27.76]And why don't you think about comin' to visit, we'd all love to see you again
[06:39.22]