Songs of Togher

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This article acts as a showcase for songs written about Togher by Togher people. Though not created for commercial gain they tell stories based in Togher through the memories of those who lived there. Click/tap on video player to listen to the tracks and leave a comment if you enjoyed them as much as the authors did putting them together. Lyrics are also included.
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My Childhood Summers

This first song was written by Kevin O'Donoghue a few years ago. Kevin originally hailed from Elm Road and based his song around summers as a child growing up in Togher. He recounts childhood activities including collecting bumble bees in a jar , the Five Star and mentions the fact that despite a complete lack of modern devices , growing up in the 1970s was a pleasurable and memorable experience where imagination was used to its fullest and everything cost nothing!

My Childhood Summers

Kevin O'Donoghue - Lyrics , Vocals & Music


The Trees Are My Bones

Written in July 2026 , this song was written in the vein of a natural personification of Togher , using the very land to tell its historic tale. Lyrics as follows , audio file below:

The Trees Are My Bones
Billy O'Brien - Lyrics  & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music

[verse]

The trees are my bones , the soil is my skin

The river's my blood , the rocks are my kin

Where 'ere ye roam , where 'ere ye stray

I'm everywhere , since time's first new day

[chorus]

Under your feet and above the ground

To this sacred land ye are for'ever bound

[verse]

My voice is the wind , can't ye hear me call

My laughter the breeze , you feel in the hall

I'm all around , though ye cannot see

I'm everywhere , there's nowhere to flee

[bridge]

The leaves are my hair , the flowers my scent

My ancient wisdom is never quite spent

All through the day and all through the night

Just out of reach , just out of sight

[chorus]

Under your feet and above the ground

To this sacred land ye are for'ever bound

[verse]

Whisper my name , call it out loud

Your hope is my heart , you make me so proud

Togher I am , And this is my bond

Togher I am , I'm never quite gone

[chorus x 2]

Under your feet and above the ground

To this sacred land ye are for'ever bound

Under your feet and above the ground

To this sacred land ye are for'ever bound

The Pride Of Togher

Written in the summer of 2026 by Billy O'Brien to commemorate the heroes and heroines of the War of Independence who hailed from Togher. The song particularly recalls the exploits of John Joe Hegarty of The Laurels and Joe Murphy of Joe Murphy House who died on hunger strike in 1920 both from Pouladuff Road. Lyrics as follows , audio file below:

The Pride of Togher
Billy O'Brien - Lyrics  & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music

[verse]
Oh hear let me tell ye of a tale that's so old
Of the boys of H Company oh they were so bold
They took on the might of the British Empire
And fought them with courage while under fire

[chorus]
Oh they never gave up and they never gave in
For in their hearts they knew that they'd win

[verse]
There was bold John Joe Hegarty and Joe Murphy
From Pouladuff Road the pride of Togher you see
Even the women stood up and did fight
For in their hearts they knew they were right

[chorus]
Oh they never gave up and they never gave in
For in their hearts they knew that they'd win

[verse]
The King he sent in the Tommies and Tans
But the Togher boys made sure that they ran
Burning the stations and closing the roads
Scorching them out of their very abodes

[chorus]
Oh they never gave up and they never gave in
For in their hearts they knew that they'd win

[bridge]
Oh it took many's a day and many's a year
But in the end they had nothing to fear
Freeing the people and freeing the land
The hold of the Empire crumbled to sand

[chorus]
Oh they never gave up and they never gave in
For in their hearts they knew that they'd win
Oh they never gave up and they never gave in
For in their hearts they knew that they'd win


The Boys Of H Company

Written to commemorate the men of H Company who were based out of Togher during the War of Independence in 1920. A name check of most of the members including John Joe Hegarty and Joe Murphy. Lyrics as follows , audio file below:

 

 

The Boys Of H Company

 Billy O'Brien - Lyrics  & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music

[verse]
Come here , now sit down , for I've something to say
'bout the boys of H Company , Old I.R.A.
Drawn down from the pride of Togher you'll see
T'was all of them , all of them , set Ireland free!

[bridge]
They asked not for favour , nor fortune or fame

For them , the goal was always the same
Drive out the invaders and set the land free
And force the hated tans to get up and flee

[chorus]
There was Dan Murphy , Joe Murphy and John Feeney
Harry Lane , Dan Mullane and Charles Harvey
John J. Hegarty , Dave Sheehan and Mike Flaherty

[verse]
T'was men such as these that made Ireland free
T'was all of them ,all of them ,set Ireland free
So lift up now your glasses for all to see
Sing loud , sing proud , oh men of the Lee
And salute the boys of H Company

[chorus]
There was Tom Hosford , John Long and Con Foley
Patrick Bohane , Thomas Lawlor and David Leary
Con Horgan , Tim Hobbs and Patrick Daly
T'was men such as these that made the Tans flee

A Dragonfly's Dream - Part 1

Written in 2026 by Billy O'Brien , this fantasy song was based around memories of the stream which flowed alongside Togher Road and past Coffey's Field in the 1970s. Part of a 4 song cycle ( all four songs are featured in order below ) centered around the innocence of childhood.  Lyrics as follows , audio file below:

A Dragonfly's Dream - Part 1
Billy O'Brien - Lyrics & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music

[verse x 2]

There's a drangonfly , flying,

right next to me,

but he's wearing a backpack,

oh can't you see?

And what appear to be goggles,

cover his eyes,

And I'd swear he's smiling,

at my surprise!

[chorus]

I'm walking through the forest,

following the stream,

the sun pierces the canopy,

is this a dream?

[verse x 4]

There's a unicorn now,

wearing a silver white coat,

and he's bending one knee,

as if to give me a bow

He says stay by the water,

and keep in close,

I'm here to protect you,

from what you know.

Just then i stumble,

and then take a fall,

I end up in the water,

and let out a call.

My vision is blurry,

I can't see that well,

but a gigantic seahorse,

is ringing a bell

[chorus x 2]

I'm walking through the forest,

following the stream,

the sun pierces the canopy,

is this a dream?

I'm walking through the forest,

following the stream,

the sun pierces the canopy,

is this a dream?

[bridge]

Just then I awake,

and look around,

Trying to make sense,

of what I'd found

On my journey through,

this quite strange place,

where nothing is real,

is this the case

[chorus x 2]

I'm walking through the forest,

following the stream,

the sun pierces the canopy,

is this a dream?

I'm walking through the forest,

following the stream,

the sun pierces the canopy,

is this a dream?

[verse]

I'm wide awake now,

the truth's revealed,

twas simply a dream,

and my fate is sealed......

A Dragonfly's Dream - Part 2

A Dragonfly's Dream - Part 2
Billy O'Brien - Lyrics & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music


[verse]
As the dragonfly flies upon the night wind,
the moon's silver light falls down on his wings
And i'm once again cast in his dream,
the unicorn's still there by the stream

[chorus]
what did you expect , what did you feel,
this is no fantasy , this is quite real!
No matter where you go , or what you say,
this dark night is here to stay!

[verse]
The trees start to shake like skeleton bones ,
their eerie limbs stretch out so long,
And cast me back into the stream.
They say it's where I belong

The seahorse approaches in a flash,
his thunderous bell begins to crack,
you do not belong here ,you never did,
the unicorn roars , get ye rid

I'm back on dry land , by the streams shore
terrified , relieved , this and no more,
the unicorn says , it's time to go,
a hundred years have passed , ye need to know!

[chorus]
what did you expect , what did you feel,
this is no fantasy , this is quite real!
No matter where you go , or what you say,
this dark night is here to stay!

what did you expect , what did you feel,
this is no fantasy , this is quite real!
No matter where you go , or what you say,
this dark night is here to stay!

[verse]
The dragonfly is flying next to me,
and whispers softly in my ear ,
I can send you back my friend
just tell me which year!

[chorus]
what did you expect , what did you feel,
this is no fantasy , this is quite real!
No matter where you go , or what you say,
this dark night is here to stay!

[bridge]
How long will this keep recurring,
I just don't know,
the dragonfly shouts,
it's time to go!

A Dragonfly's Dream - Part 3 - Finale?

A Dragonfly's Dream - Part 3 - Finale?
Billy O'Brien - Lyrics & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music


[verse x 2]
As I live and breathe ,
As I go to and fro,
the Dragonfly follows,
you see it knows

No matter what I do,

or what I say,
he's right beside me ,
come night or day

[pre-chorus]
Infinite dreams and endless nightmares,
pleasure and pain,
I feel the sun's warmth
and thunderous rain

[chorus]
Life is half dream ,
yet I'm awake,
This can't be real,
for my own sake

Life is half dream ,
yet I'm awake,
This can't be real,
for my own sake

[verse x 4]
Inside out and upside down,
sideways and backwards,
behind and in front,
listening to the sound of birds

Yet it's always the same,
the dragonfly and the unicorn,
no rainbows to be seen,
just a dark cloud being born

A storm soon appears ,
so loud and dark,
exhorting my fears,
it makes its mark

I can't run ,
I can't hide,
my childhood screams,
my adult lies

[pre-chorus]
Life is so short,
yet still so long,
so many desires,
all are gone

[chorus]
Life is half dream ,
yet I'm awake,
This can't be real,
for my own sake

[bridge]
The dragonfly flies ,
the unicorn smiles,
the seahorse beckons,
it was all a lie!


A Dragonfly's Dream - The Return Of The Seahorse! 

A Dragonfly's Dream - Part 4 - The Return Of The Seahorse
Billy O'Brien - Lyrics & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music

[verse x 3]
You thought it was all over ,
but here's the thing,
the seahorse was always here,
waiting for his ring

So once again I'm here,
thinking all was lost,
but even sweet freedom,
comes at a cost

The return of the seahorse,
once so small now so large,
once so small now so large,
seemingly in the background,
now all must merge!

[chorus x 2]
Forget about the unicorn ,
and even the dragonfly,
it was always the seahorse,
who thought me how to fly!

Forget about the unicorn ,
and even the dragonfly,
it was always the seahorse,
who thought me how to fly!

[verse]
I feel I must explain,
just what it's all about,
the seahorse is at pains ,
let him scream and shout!

[chorus x 2]
Forget about the unicorn ,
and even the dragonfly,
it was always the seahorse,
who thought me how to fly!

Forget about the unicorn ,
and even the dragonfly,
it was always the seahorse,
who thought me how to fly!

[verse]
At last I think it's over,
as I face reality,
I know not what the year,
or what I'll see!

[chorus]
Forget about the unicorn ,
and even the dragonfly,
it was always the seahorse,
who thought me how to fly!

[bridge]
The moral of the story,
is clear for all to see,
cast aside all your doubts ,
and just let things be.....

Reality Dreams

A song based on a childhood memory of riding a steerna ( handcrafted boxcar ) down Hazel Road back in the 1970s. Several streets get an honorable call out. Lyrics as follows , audio file below:

Reality Dreams

Billy O'Brien - Lyrics & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music 


[verse]
Down Ardmanning Hill and into the square ,
Hazel Road and then the Five Star ,
Up Elm Road and back down again ,
On a steerna borrowed from a friend

[chorus]
Happy days , golden days ,
Now sadly long gone,
I wish I could go back ,

to when I was young

[verse x 2]
Sycamore Place and Cherry Tree road ,
Maple Place and Whitebeam Road ,
Clashduv , Pouladuff and Spur Hill
In my memory they linger still

The Bog , the Glasheen , and the old railway bridge
which lead down to the school that they had just built
Even the church was new at that time
And the stream she looked so fine

[chorus]
Happy days , golden days ,
Now sadly long gone,
I wish I could go back ,
to when I was young

[bridge]
They say memories are just like your dreams
Lived long ago or so it seems
The past is a foreign place you can't go
with scenes that only you know

[chorus]
Happy days , golden days ,
Now sadly long gone,
I wish I could go back ,
to when I was young


A Journey's End

A symphonic fantasy piece based on a typical Ui Mc Ceir warrior in Togher in the 8th Century! Lyrics as follows , audio file below:

 

A Journey's End
Billy O'Brien - Lyrics & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music
 

[verse x 2]

as the leaf falls upon the ground and turns over,

so as in life i must seek the door

the one which opens and never closes

listen as the lamb he roars!

Moving along and quite cautious,

staring ahead to see what's there,

danger it lurks round every corner,

a cloak of doubt is what i wear.

[chorus]

when did this happen,

can you recall,

a loud knock is rapping,

that is all!

[verse x 3]

So onwards I travel ,

up glen down dale,

the mystery unravels.

and leaves me pale

the moonlight burns me,

the sun's so cold,

the cloud it covers me,

with dread untold

the journey begins with just one step,

I wish it was the last one trod,

so many miles have come between us,

for my back i've built a rod.

[chorus x 2]

when did this happen,

can you recall,

a loud knock is rapping,

that is all!

when did this happen,

can you recall,

a loud knock is rapping,

that is all!

[bridge]

like all good stories,

this one will end,

good evil or bad,

the river must bend!

[chorus]

when did this happen,

can you recall,

a loud knock is rapping,

that is all!

 The Tale Of Togher

An upbeat tempo describes this imaginary tale of warriors patrolling the Glasheen stream over a thousand years ago. An unfinished song which may be revisited at a later date. 

 

The Tale Of Togher

Billy O'Brien - Lyrics & Melody
Mureka Ai - Vocals & Music
 

 

[verse]

Through Morrison's ravine flows the mighty Glasheen

All the way down to Waterfall

Then around sheltering rock

Oh it never quite stops

Till it reaches the grand River Lee

[chorus]

Now here let me tell ye of a tale that's so old

Of Togher's ancient gaels who once ruled

O'er this sacred land and all that it did hold

[bridge]

For thousands of years the ghosts did lay still

But now awake from their slumber

to regale ye all with their history

 

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To Be Continued...
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