Na
Magha Legacy Project Concert 9.5.2015
The
Na Magha Suite
Music
© Donal O'Connor and John McSherry
Words
© Dave Duggan
Narrator's
text:
We gather
now, families and friends, in this venerable hall.
To
celebrate our ancient games of sturdy stick and blazing ball.
With
musicians, composers, singers, children; players all,
Who run
and leap and catch and swing, by the swirling waves of Foyle.
We swing
the shinny, hurl the hurl, collide and crash the curt camán,
In hardy
deeds, full of cheery passion's fire, we exert our breadth and brawn,
As ancient
Conall Gulban claimed the ash, by his own sword was sawn,
To run and
leap and catch and swing, by the swirling waves of Foyle.
On a grave
stone at Clonca, north of Moville, in fairest Inishowen,
You'll see
Magnus' camán and sliotar etched upon a sculpted stone.
Mac
Orriston the hurler now rests eternal, under grass delicately mown.
No more
he'll run and leap and catch and swing, by the swirling waves of
Foyle.
Easter is
a time of hope, when Spring fires up the dormant blood.
The
hurlers sense the sap astir and gather to form clubs.
They clash
in Patricks' season to gain for them the cup,
Who run
and leap and catch and swing, by the swirling waves of Foyle.
When
churlish clerics chant their surly 'nos' aloft from pulpits bleak,
To ban the
pleasant players from the Sunday fields at the end of the working
week,
The
hurlers, camogs, supporters, hurls aloft, players all, in one warm
voice they speak,
'We will
run and leap and catch and swing, by the swirling waves of Foyle'.
We players
that compete today know just how blessed we are
To have a
place to play on grass, in air, in doors and not on glar.
Praise
Francis Carlin, Sean Dolan, heroic men and women, who now watch us
from afar,
As we run
and leap and catch and swing, by the swirling waves of Foyle.
When
troubles anxious stunned our shattered streets
And
doubters cast their bile at our numbers sore deplete
We held
our hurls and passions strong, foregoing all defeat,
To run and
leap and catch and swing, by the swirling waves of Foyle.
We talk
about our history, as we ready to depart,
Because
tomorrow calls us, to build with bricks of sport.
Let's
smile and wish each other well, as we go in happy heart,
To run and
leap and catch and swing, by the swirling waves of Foyle.
Song: We're all in Na
Magha
Helmets strapped on
tightly
Hurleys in our joyful
hands
Sliotars fly before us
Crowds shout in the
stands
We're happy to be
hurling
Running with our many
friends
Hurlers, camogs
sporting
The playing never ends
We're all in Na Magha
Come see us, you hear
us call
Bring your kids and
join in
Welcome one and all
For hurling is for
heroes
The very likes of me
and you
Grasp the ash and swing
it
You're in Na Magha too
Refrain:
Run and leap now
Lift and strike now
Over the bar then
Na Magha, Na Magha, Na
Magha abú
Hook and block now
First time pull now
Back of the net then
Na Magha, Na Magha, Na
Magha abú
Repeat
verse 1 and refrain
© Dave
Duggan 2015
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