Ho for Fineen the Rover

An old castle towers o’er the billows
That thunder by Cleena’s green land
And there dwelt as gallant a rover
As ever grasped hilt in the hand
Eight stately towers of the waters
Lie anchored in Baltimore Bay
And over their twenty score sailors
O who but that Rover holds sway ?
Then ho for Fineen the Rover
Fineen O’Driscoll the free
Straight as the mast of his galley
And wild as a wave of the sea
The Saxons of Cork and Moyallo
They harried his lands with their powers
He gave them a taste of his cannon
And drove them like wolves from his towers
The men of Clan London brought over
Their strong fleet to make him a slave
They met him by Mizen’s wild headland
And the sharks gnawed their bones ‘neath the wave
Then ho for Fineen the Rover
Fineen O’Driscoll the free
With step like the red stag of Beara
And voice like the bold-sounding sea*

I only took one photo today and this is it! Rossbrin Bay with the stark remains of Rossbrin Castle still watching all who sail in and out. It was once the home of Fineen the Rover, an exceptionally erudite lord, renown for his extensive library and lavish hospitality. There's even a poem/song about him. A different Fineen to the usual one.

A seriously dark and gloomy day but we spent it in the best possible way - a long lunch with some friends. Canadian split pea soup, a roaring fire and a bit of Irish language practice was most enjoyable. It's actually the first time I've been out for days too.

Later a skype with son#1 who is just recovering from a very unpleasant bout of what must have been flu. It seems there is an epidemic :(

* There's only a terrible rendition of Fineen the Rover instead I give you The Irish Rover, and did you know Shane McGowan just celebrated his 60th birthday, against all the odds!