The Fairy Lough

LOUGHAREEMA! Loughareema

Lies so high among the heather;

A little lough, a dark lough,

The wather's black and deep.

Ould herons go a-fishin' there,

An' sea-gulls all together

Float roun' the one green island

On the fairy lough asleep.

Loughareema, Loughareema;

When the sun goes down at seven,

When the hills are dark an' airy

'Tis a curlew whistles sweet!

Then somethin' rustles all the reeds

That stand so thick and even;

A little wave runs up the shore

An' flees, as if on feet.

Loughareema! Loughareema!

Stars come out, an' stars are hidin';

The wather whispers on the stones,

The flitterin' moths are free.

One'st before the mornin' light

The Horsemen will come ridin'

Roun' an' roun' the fairy lough,

An' no one there to see.

Moira O'Neill