ELLEN #FOUR

“Alright you ragamuffins time for bed, say goodnight to your father.”  

As Barney extracted himself from a wrestle on the floor with his two eldest sons, he was attacked from behind by his daughters giggling with delight.  

He was swamped with hugs from his five children. “Goodnight Da.”  

He wasn’t used to all this attention. The children were usually asleep by the time he got in of a night. 

Quietly tucking the children into the beds they shared, Ellen was besieged with questions and requests.

"What song will you sing tonight Mammy?"

"It's my turn to choose, Mammy?"

"Sing Piper Tim, Mammy, please Mammy." 

"Ssh, my little ones, ssh or Da might choose his favourite!"

Barney closed his eyes listening to his wife Ellen’s lilting voice as she sang… 

'Every person in the nation 

Or of great or humble station 

Holds in highest estimation 

Piping Tim of Galway 

Loudly he can play or low 

He can move you fast or slow 

Touch your hearts or stir your toe 

Piping Tim of Galway [1]

… calming the children down, watching as they each drifted off to sleep.  

Returning to the table she remembered the day. What a grand day, so much fun with the treasure hunt, then Barney coming home early enough that we were able to sit down together for a decent meal. I guess I will find out now why he is looking like the cat who got the cream.  

“Barney are you going to tell me what you have been doing today? Did you get work?”  

“No acushla, much better than that. What say you to starting the year of 1837 with a new adventure and life.”  

Thank you God, it looks like you might have led him to the right place.  

“Barney, stop being daft, whatever do you mean?”  

“Well come sit here and I will tell you about my day.” 

Ellen snuggled into his lap and prepared to sound excited and encouraging. She knew what he had found on the notice board and it suited her just fine. She felt very pleased with herself and her scheming. Things would work out just fine. 

“You will never guess what I found today on the noticeboard in town. The Governor of the new colonies in Australia is looking for men with families to go to the colony of New South Wales on a bounty system.” [2] 

“So if we…  

“Ssh lass let me finish. The government will pay for our passage and guarantee work when we arrive. They are looking for mechanics or farm labourers.[3]  Now seeing as I run this allotment and I am a Stonemason, it got me thinking.”

“Thinking what Barney?” 

“We would need to secure our passage with a deposit but they will give us that back when we arrive. They have just about filled the boat, but if we are quick and put our name down [4]… 

“But…  

“Now let me finish acushla, now where was I? Yes if we are quick getting our application in and can be ready to make our way to Londonderry by the 14th March, we can be celebrating St Patrick’s Day on the Ship the Adam Lodge.”

Ellen felt like her head was spinning. Did Barney even draw breath through all that? Lord this is what I had hoped for, but I hadn’t expected it to be so soon. The 14th of March is only weeks away!

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1. Galway Piper, Collection of Irish Song Lyrics,https://www.irishsongs.com/lyrics.php?Action=view&Song_id=125, accessed 8 March 2020

2.. McDonnell, Pat. "The Voyage of the Adam Lodge." Clogher Record 13, no. 1 (1988): 132-37. Accessed March 16, 2020. doi:10.2307/27699282, p132

3. McDonnell, Pat. "The Voyage of the Adam Lodge." Clogher Record 13, no. 1 (1988): 132-37. Accessed March 16, 2020. doi:10.2307/27699282., p132

4. McDonnell, Pat. "The Voyage of the Adam Lodge." Clogher Record 13, no. 1 (1988): 132-37. Accessed March 16, 2020. doi:10.2307/27699282, p132