from Compositions by Christy McNamara
When I was about 10 years old I was sent off on my bicycle 3 miles away to pick some messages (groceries) for my mother from Fogarty’s Shop and Pub in Crusheen village. I handed in my list with the money and my shopping bag to the woman of the house, our cousin Angela Fogarty.
When she had everything put in the bag she then cut me a wafer ice cream and told me to pick up an orange crate that was left on a bench across from the bar counter. I looked on in total surprise after hearing the chirping noises coming from the crate. She came out with me holding some string to tie it securely on the carrier of my bike. I had no idea what all this was about and was too shy to ask any questions till I got back home.
Once that was all done I hopped back up on my bike after relishing my ice cream and with Angela Fogarty issuing me orders to go easy and make sure that I brought the Day Old Chicks home safe and sound. Anyway, they chirped all the way down the road making their own music… happy as could be to my child’s mind.
In those days, it was common for everyone in the countryside to have their own hens and when there was a brooding hen and not enough eggs to hatch the woman of the house would send an order by post to the hatcheries in Limerick for an a dozen day old chicks which would be dispatched the following day by bus to local shops/pubs like Fogarty’s in Crusheen.
My epic journey home with these Day Old Chicks is the inspiration for this tune.
