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Notes About The Poem

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One of Irelands most famous folk songs is the song 'The Fields of Athenry ' written by Pete St John.

It was about the irish famine in 1845 and the starving population whose potato crop was wiped out by the blight fungus that made potato's inedible.

At that time Ireland was governed by England and the English landlords gave little or no help and the result was that over a million people died from starvation.

Corn that was grown in Ireland was sent to England to be sold on for profit that could have been used to prevent starvation in Ireland.

Petty theft from crown grain stores was rife and people only stole to survive and for anyone

caught the consequences were quite severe with those convicted sent to the penal colony at Botany Bay never to return.

Profit before people, how little has changed.

The Fields of Athenry

Irelands' famine, England chose to ignore
The potato blight caused devastation
Michael stole corn from a granary store
To stop loved ones dying from starvation.

Arrested and charged with theft from the crown
Judge passed sentence and he got twenty years
Outside prison walls in old Galway town
His wife Mary and family shed tears.

Ne'er again see the fields of Athenry
Sent to prison thousands of miles away
He would ne'er again see the free birds fly
From that harsh prison in Botany Bay.

The ship sailed that day on the evening tide
His dreams for the future had all but died.



Written July 26th 2019.

Inspired by the song 'The  Fields of Athenry ' The music and lyrics were composed by a Dublin folk singer Pete St John.

Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2019

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August 12, 2022 at 6:24 AM

Life turned unbelievably sad for the poor people at some turn in history ! A theft to save the starving family shouln't have been treated with such harshness. The tone is so melancholic and the content, so touching !

August 12, 2022 at 8:52 AM

It was a dark time in Irelands history Valsa, one of my earlier poems was AnGorta Mor translated its the great hunger. Tom

September 6, 2019 at 3:34 PM

So very sad my friend. Elegant words, brutally brought to paper with expertise of pen, to show such pain. Wonderfully done, if so very sad. Ann

September 6, 2019 at 5:02 PM

Thank you Ann, it was a terrible tragedy that could have bern prevented. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen

August 1, 2019 at 7:48 AM

- I love this ... even though it touches me deeply - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

August 1, 2019 at 7:52 AM

Thank you very much Anne, it was indeed a sad time in Ireland but greed and lack of compassion took over. Tom

August 1, 2019 at 6:22 AM

Hi Tom: A very historical but sad poem of an ethnicity that was persecuted during a certain epoch in history. Hopefully we can all learn from history.

August 1, 2019 at 7:50 AM

Thank you Ralph, Thankfully things have improved in the world but sadly there are one or two that still live in the past. Tom.

Connie Marcum Wong

August 1, 2019 at 3:33 AM

I loved how you honor those who suffered during the famine in your beautiful moving poem Tom. My ancestors came over during that time and earlier in the 1700's. It was a terrible time for Ireland. This poignant sonnet is going into my Faves Tom. xxoo

August 1, 2019 at 5:24 AM

Thank you Connie and for the fave. England cannot be proud of its past, they ruled their empire with an iron fist. At the time of the famine they sent 65 ships to seize foodstuffs' from Ireland that could have fed the starving people. In some parts of Ireland the English are not welcomed because of it's brutal past. Tom.

July 31, 2019 at 1:12 PM

Excellent expose of England's nasty side. You are the Charles Dickens of Poetry Soup, my friend! Thanks for the education. Appreciated. ~ gw

July 31, 2019 at 1:23 PM

Thanks Gershon, everywhere they grabbed for their empire suffered, treated the people like second class citizens, India was another country they tried to rule but Ghandi stood up to them. Tom

July 31, 2019 at 8:46 AM

As you said in your preface "how little has changed", A powerful write Tom..

July 31, 2019 at 1:20 PM

Thank you very much Joseph, hard to even think that even today some wonder where their next meal is coming from. Tom

Richard Lamoureux

July 31, 2019 at 8:18 AM

This is a sad one. For some no Justice is realized. A well told story with historical context.

July 31, 2019 at 1:19 PM

Thank you Richard, it could have been avoided but greed, profit and an arrogant government in England got in the way. Tom

Timothy Mcguire

July 30, 2019 at 9:50 PM

Love it a FAV for me an old Irishman whos ancestors fled the famine to start a new life here in the colonies!

Timothy Mcguire

July 31, 2019 at 6:23 PM

that's right and many area of this country discriminated against the Irish and enslaved them too.

July 31, 2019 at 2:11 AM

Thanks Timothy, staying behind meant death so they emigrated all over the world. England did little or nothing to help and many Irish have never forgotten that. Tom

July 30, 2019 at 10:06 AM

Vintage writing Tom...lovely sonnet made it perfect...sending fields of Irish coffee lol...^WW^ :o)

July 31, 2019 at 2:02 AM

Thanks W.W. Nothing beats an Irish coffee with a good dash of Irish (Jameson's). Tom

Andrea Dietrich

July 28, 2019 at 1:50 PM

Love this, Tom. Maybe he outlived all his family just by being placed in a prison for 20 years. I studied this horrible famine and learned that nearly half the population disappeared, either died or moved to America/Canada. As of 20 years ago when I read that article, Ireland had still not regained the same population they had enjoyed in 1846. Maybe by now they have surpassed it. So tragic how the rich keep down the poor and it never ends.

July 28, 2019 at 1:57 PM

Thank you Andrea, although governed by England at the time they didn't see it as an English problem and done little to help. Corn and crops grown in Ireland were removed by force and taken to England. Many Irish left their homeland never to return. And you're right it never ends. Tom

Jennifer Proxenos

July 28, 2019 at 10:13 AM

A wonderful history lesson, or perhaps political either way, a great write Tom. Hugs, Jennifer.

July 28, 2019 at 1:28 PM

Thank you very much Jennifer, you should google Irish famine, you wont believe how the Irish were treated. Tom

July 28, 2019 at 9:42 AM

for a little bit of grain...but you are right nothing has changed at all...

July 28, 2019 at 1:26 PM

Thank you Arturo, you'd think mankind would learn but he doesn't. Tom

July 28, 2019 at 9:28 AM

What a wonderful sonnet you have penned, Tom, such depth of emotion and sadness. Nicely done. All the best my friend. John

July 28, 2019 at 1:25 PM

Thank you john, a dark chapter in Ireland's history, but empires come and go as we have seen throughout history. Tom

July 28, 2019 at 8:21 AM

Great piece Tom. I am a big fan of the song too! Best wishes Lisa ??

July 28, 2019 at 1:21 PM

Thank you Lisa,one of Irelands most popular songs that is sung at many sporting events. Tom

July 28, 2019 at 7:28 AM

A very powerful glimpse into a sad chapter of history. An excellent story that reminds us of past misdeeds and offers lessons ..the world hopefully has since learned. Kudos for the theme and this write, Tom.

July 28, 2019 at 1:19 PM

Thank you Vijay, those misdeeds' man must learn from. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis

July 28, 2019 at 2:36 AM

Sacrificing people for profit and grow one's empire is a abominable crime against humanity in the eyes of men and of God. A painful but true story , excellently written my friend, Tom. I feel so sorry for Ireland and its people to have suffered such an injustice. God bless Ireland.

July 28, 2019 at 1:18 PM

Thank you Demetrious, profit and greed before people, it took an uprising to free them from tyranny. Tom

July 27, 2019 at 6:43 PM

written from the heart with much depth, tom... i learned something interesting through your wonderful work... huggs

July 27, 2019 at 10:52 PM

Thank you Nette, it was a terrible time in Irish history and England should hang its head in shame, in 1916 the Irish anti British movement was gathering pace and it led to the rebellion that eventually gave Ireland its independence from British rule. Tom.

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