Local singer/song writer SJ McArdle is writing a song-cycle about the impact of the First World War on Drogheda and its people and he’s asking local people to share their family stories with him.
“I’ve always been interested in the poetry and history of the Great War in general – I studied it for my degree” said SJ.
“It had a unique impact on Irish soldiers and their families at home because so much changed in Ireland between 1914 and 1918 and when soldiers returned home they were in a unique predicament having fought for the British Army.
“Performing my song “The Hard Wind” (see video below) around Ireland, I was always struck by the response of audience members whose relatives had endured the trauma of the trenches only to be met with a sense of embarrassment or shame upon their return.”
SJ’s new project is provisionally titled “And All My Dream Companions Gone”, which is a line from the poem “After Court Martial” by the war poet Francis Ledwidge from Slane who was killed in the War.
“As per my previous song-cycle, PORT, I’m trying to write a set of songs here that are a patchwork of emotional, relatable stories, reflecting the hopes and fears of a generation of local people whose stories are not really represented in our canon of song” SJ continued.
“Importantly, the format will give me the opportunity to present many different viewpoints and give scope for a really balanced piece of work.”
“The Old Drogheda Society have been absolutely brilliant, allowing me access to a large range of books, articles and accounts. I’ve also already heard stories from local people about their own relatives, however, and that has really helped bring the facts to life.
“I wonder would anyone else be interested in sharing stories with me? I will not use people’s names in the finished work – it’s the truth of the stories I’m trying to get to.
“I’ve set up an email address for this – DroghedaWarStories@gmail.com.
The video for SJ’s song “The Hard Wind “tells the story of a young Irishman who goes off to fight in the First World War and returns to a very different Ireland.It was filmed at the former home of legendary Irish artist Nano Reid above what is now Clarke’s pub.
After Court Martial
By Francis Ledwidge
My mind is not my mind, therefore
I take no heed of what men say,
I lived ten thousand years before
God cursed the town of Nineveh.
The Present is a dream I see
Of horror and loud sufferings,
At dawn a bird will waken me
Unto my place among the kings.
And though men called me a vile name,
And all my dream companions gone,
Tis I the soldier bears the shame,
Not I the king of Babylon.
