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Glencolumbkille in West Donegal is one of the most remote and mystical glens in Ireland. Named after Saint Columba who lived there before journeying to the island of Iona to spread Christianity to the heathen tribes of Caledonia, local history has it that the Young Pretender (Bonnie Prince Charlie) spent a week in hiding there before being picked up by a French ship on his flight from Culloden moor. There are no eagles resident in Ireland but the high seacliffs around the Donegal coast attract frequent visits from sea eagles flying over from Scotland in search of prey.
The tumbling clouds drift up the glen
Past the tower upon the hill
The’re driven by the great Atlantic sea
Tae the West of Glencolumbkille
The’re driven by the great Atlantic sea
Tae the West of Glencolumbkille
I tramp the bog beneath my feet
Where hidden bogoaks lie
I climb towards the lookout post
Where playful ravens fly
They twist they turn above the cliffs
Around the rocks they fly
A raven flips o’er once again
I stop to wonder why
A raven flips o’er once again
I stop I wonder why
It was on the road to Mallinbeg
At the place called Mallinmore
I stopped to dwell on one of those
Who’d passed this way before
For having fled Culloden Moor
The young pretender came
Tae board his ship near Mallinmore
In hopes of winnin’ hame
Tae board his ship near Mallinmore
In hopes of winnin’ hame
Sometimes the eagles fly this way
From Scotland’s distant shore
They’re searching for their long lost prince
Round the cliffs of Mallinmore
They’re searching for their long lost prince
Round the cliffs of Mallinmore
The tumbling clouds drift up the glen
Past the tower upon the hill
They’re driven by the great Atlantic sea
And the ghosts of Glencolumbkille
Driven by the great Atlantic sea
And the ghosts of Glencolumbkille