The Rise of the Finucanes
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Two years ago I attended the first ever Finucane family reunion at the Hodson Bay hotel on the banks of Lough Ree in Athlone, Ireland, I composed a welcome poem for my cousin Senan Finucane to read out at that event.
It was a memorable occasion with singing, dancing, a slideshow and poetry.
Over seventy people attended travelling from all over Ireland and England.
This weekend the second one is being held at Stratford Upon Avon ( birthplace of Shakespeare )
A big welcome to you all who’ve travelled from afar
By plane by boat and motor car
For a reunion here in Hodson bay
It will be I’m sure a memorable day.
From across the sea some have come today
These are your hometowns and I will say
Tamworth, Evesham, Birmingham city
Burnley and Colne a town so pretty.
Cardiff and Sutton, London too
All gathered here for this reunion do
Closer to home Dublin Galway and Clare
Roscommon and Meath great places I swear.
Marriage brought other names into the clan
Meaney ,Johnson, Gill, Cunningham and Mann
Other names too and united we be
All members of the Finucane family.
Let’s go back to where it began
Where are the roots of the Finucane clan ?
It started with Edmund and Mary too
Their children had children that’s me and you.
In Effernan, County Clare the seed was sown
Like a thriving bush we’ve grown and grown
But where did they go to that I can tell
Ireland England Australia as well.
But wherever they went they kept in touch
With Ireland their homeland that they loved so much
The legacy they left us is like a gold mine
We’re all descendents of the Finucane line.
Edmund and Mary they’d be so proud
Looking down on us here a large happy crowd
Fide Et Fortitude is the motto on our crest
That sums us all up because we are the best.
We’ve sometimes met briefly to say goodbye
To our loved ones we lost and to have a cry
But today is different, there won’t be tears
Just lots of laughter and maybe a few beers.
To see you all here is a wonderful sight
And we’ll do it again if the price is right
Somewhere hot or even back here
Or maybe Dromoland if it isn't too dear.
I thank each and every one of you
For making the journey to come to this do
Sadly not everyone could be here today
But they’re here in spirit I can honestly say.
Written on 29th July 2017.
Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2019
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