The Woods of Gortnamona... Listen to our pupils sing this song

The song ‘The Woods of Gortnamona’ is a lovely song and it is possible that the song is about the area around our school. People around here say that Percy French, the talented songwriter, sometimes visited the O’Connor Morrises in Mountpleasant House. But people in Galway and Donegal say that the song is about a place called Gortnamona in their county. About 100 years ago the area around the school was covered in woods but nowadays most of the woods have disappeared.

Percy French was born on the 1st of May 1854 in Cloonquin, Co. Roscommon. When he was old enough he went to Trinity College to study civil engineering. He worked for a while as an engineer but he was more interested in music and songs.
He was a very talented writer, artist and composer and he wrote many songs such as ‘Come Back Paddy Reilly To Ballyjamesduff’, ‘Are You Right There Michael’, ‘Phill The Fluthers Ball’, ‘Slatterys Mounted Fut’ and of course ‘The Woods of Gortnamona’.

Percy married twice and both marriages were very happy. His first marriage came to a tragic end when his wife died on their wedding anniversary and his daughter died a month later. It is believed that he wrote the song ‘The Woods of Gortnamona’ in memory of his wife that died.

 
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