Song review: Donna Taggart - Mary From Dungloe

Let op! Donna zingt vers 2 en 3 NIET!

Het verhaal van Mary:

Paddy and Annie Gallagher, married since 1840, lived in the Rosses, setting up home in Lettercaugh - as farmers and shopkeepers, achieving a rural middle-class status. And raising a family with four children, Manus, Bridget, Annie (also known as Nancy), and Mary. The youngest, Mary, was also known as the most beautiful girl in the area, she "stood out" (being quite tall and having good clothes helped).

Mary accompanied her father to the summer fair in Dungloe in 1861, which doubled up as a sort of matchmaking event for unmarried sins and daughter. There she met (upon the introduction of her father) a young man, wealthy, originally from Gweedore, but lately residing in the USA. A man with enough money to provide for a wife and home in Ireland. He became a frequent visitor and was welcome in the Gallagher household. A wedding was actually planned for September - when things went sour. Apparently neighbours had been spreading gossip about the young man, and everything was called off. Leaving the two young lovers heartbroken.

But as things did not change, the "returned emigrant" found live in the area unbearable ... and turned to emigration once more. Whirlwind style ... already on October 6th, 1861, he left Ireland for the USA again.

Having nothing left to live for in the Rosses, Mary in turn corresponded with her brother Manus, who had been evicted in 1860, made his way to New Zealand, and settled there quite successfully. So she upped sticks as well in a short time ... six months and a day after the summer fair, on December 5th, 1861, she started her emigration journey to New Zealand, planning to join her relatives there. And to begin a new life. Which also happened quite quickly - on the emigrant ship she met a certain Dónal Egan, marrying him soon after. But even that was not for long, as after giving birth to a baby boy she died within four months, with her son surviving only a few months more.

Bron: https://www.tripsavvy.com/mary-from-dungloe-lyrics-1542669