Cliffs of Dooneen

The Cliffs of Dooneen is an Irish ballad made famous by Planxty. It is often performed by Christy Moore. The song was written by Jack McAuliffe from Lixnaw, County Kerry about the cliffs around Dooneen Point near Beale, Kerry in the west of Ireland.

"Cliffs of Dooneen"
Cliffs of Dooneen
Song
Songwriter(s)Jack McAuliffe

Confusion over the location

The mention of the west coast of County Clare and the towns of Kilkee and Kilrush have made the song a County Clare anthem, with the words "Cliffs of Dooneen" often changed to "Hills of Moveen", a location a few miles west of Kilkee. This has led to confusion over the location of the cliffs which some assume to be in Clare rather than in Kerry.

In September 2010 the confusion was mentioned in a lighthearted Irishman's Diary article [1] which provoked responses from the public in the follow up article.[2]

Dooneen Point is clearly marked on the historic Ordnance Survey of Ireland map.[3] The cliffs themselves can also be seen from satellite photos.[4]

Some doubt the ability to see both Kilkee (on the north of the Clare peninsula) and Kilrush (on the south of the Clare peninsula) from North Kerry. The following photographs taken from the same spot show Beale, Kerry in the foreground with Clare towns in the distance.

Origins of the song

The late Liam Buckley who was born in the cottage immediately adjacent to the Cliffs of Dooneen has stated the poem was penned by Jack McAuliffe who had travelled from Lixnaw to Beale to visit his sister. Jack had spent time with locals in the fields above and shore below the cliffs. He then visited Bill and Nell Buckley's cottage, known as "99" a few hundred metres away - for tea and scones. Liam was told by his mother (Jack's host) that the poem was written at the kitchen window of the cottage. Liam says the poem was put to music years later by a local musician. Liam did not know the date the poem was written but he remembers it from the 1930s.

A variation of Liam Buckley's account from Jack McAuliffe's niece also exists which suggests it was written in the adjoining cottage occupied by Bob Boyle.[5]

Lyrics

The Cliffs of Dooneen

I have traveled afar from my own native home.

Away o’er the billows, away o’er the foam

I have seen many sights but no equal I’ve seen

To the old rocky slopes by the cliffs of Dooneen

I have seen many sights of fair land,

Africa and Asia so delightful and grand,

But dig me a grave were the grass it grows green

On the old rocky slopes by the cliffs of Dooneen.

How pleasant to walk on a fine summers day.

And to view the sweet cherries that will never decay,

Where the sea grass and seaweed and the old carrageen

All grow from the rocks by the cliffs of Dooneen.

The Sand hills of Beal are glorious and grand,

And the old castle ruins looking out on the strand,

Where the hares and the rabbits are there to be seen

Making holes for their homes by the cliffs of Dooneen.

I have tracked my love’s footsteps to the boathouse of old

And the dance on the hillside where love stories are told,

Its there you will see both the lad and the colleen

Moving round by the shore of the cliffs of Dooneen

Take a view across the Shannon some sites you will see there

High rocky mountains on the south coast of Clare

The towns of Kilrush and Kilkee ever green

But theres none to compare with the cliffs of Dooneen

Farewell Dooneen, Farewell for a while,

And to those kind-Hearted neighbours that I left in the isle,

May my soul never rest till it’s laid on the green

Near the old rocky slopes by the Cliffs of Dooneen

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References
  1. "An Irishman's Diary by F McNally in The Irish Times (1 September 2010)". Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2011.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  2. "An Irishman's Diary". The Irish Times. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012.
  3. "Map of Dooneen Point". Ordnance Survey Ireland. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  4. "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  5. "dooneen.com". dooneen.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2011.
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