Ciara Considine: Song Info
"Spancil Hill"
On 23rd June each year, the famous Spancilhill Horse Fair takes place at the cross-roads, 4 miles from Ennis, Co Clare. Michael Considine from Spancilhill was one of the 3 million Irish emigrants who boarded the infamous 'Coffin Ships' to the USA and Canada, to escape famine. He left his 'love' Mary in 1870 with the promise of making a new life for them in the USA. However, aged 23 he suffered from ill-health after arriving. Knowing he hadn't long to live, he wrote the poem 'Spancilhill' to be sent back home, which was kept safe by his 6 year-old nephew John Considine. Indeed Michael died in 1873, his body was eventually brought back and he's now buried in the Spancilhill graveyeard. Mary McNamara remained faithful to his memory and never married.
