On a visit to an Irish museum, in Wexford years ago, I found my self looking at the masthead of the Clipper Ship Pomona. It was in a castle collection of other maritime odds & ends. The masthead was one of only a few things removed from the grave of the ship. (Used at the end of the Video)
There was a storm outside the castle, and thunder started to rock the place. As I read the statement of history, under the masthead location, I learned about the story. Lightning entered at that same moment through the windows and crossed the eyes of the Pomona maiden that was made of wood. A very strange feeling came over me when I read the last line of the story, in which hard- helmet divers, days after the wreck, had found many of the Irish passengers still holding arms together as they died under water in the hold of the ship. (I removed that verse from the song ballad)
I started to think about the 380 Irish passengers on the day they left Liverpool, and that this Clipper ship from America, had brought just great hope. On the front of the ship was this women Pomona, with a hand full of corn reaching out, and a promise of American freedom just months away.
It stated in the story that when the ship left Liverpool, many of the Irish were on the upper deck, and there was a fiddle and a piper performing a set of jigs. People were dancing and laughing and all the spirits were high. As the ship left Liverpool and many went below for sleep, a small wind became a full blown nightmare. The skipper of the Pomona operated off the wrong light and hit rocks, and then a sand bar off Wexford. The waves ened up taking the Pomona Clipper along with all, but three passengers.
After I left the museum I drove west toward the midlands of Ireland. At sunset I walked up to a hilltop and wrote this song. The song found it's way into me at the museum. It was like it had always been there somehow. It was important for me at last, to bring this song forward.
To the memory of the Pomona- Under the waves you are not forgotten! Patrick Michael
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Patrick is an amazing talented individual, from his singing, songwriting and beautiful paintings, that is just the least I have to say about him and his many talents and projects; check him out, I'm positive you'd come to the same conclusion!
Slainte, darlene
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