Joe Sharkey wrote this poem the night before he left Ireland to sail to Canada about 1900. He sailed for Canada with another brother, Andrew Sharkey, and George Brown who married his sister Martha Sharkey. They were all from Loughneas, Leckpatrick Parish.
Farewell,farewell my Native Land, a long farewell to thee
For I will woo Dame Fortune’s smiling land far o’er the sea,
But I am sad to leave you, green Erin’s fertile soil
The lovely banks of Dennet and the winding river Foyle.
No more I’ll watch the golden sun set over Binion Hill
Or listen to the Dennet’s song down by the old scotch mill
No more at early dawn I’ll hear the lark’s clear thrilling lay
But I will fondly think of thee when I am far away.
Farewell to Killycurry’s Heights, farewell to Eden Braie,
Farewell to Ballyheather and goodbye to sweet Laughnease.
That name so sweet shall cheer me on Canada’s trackless plain
And fancy on the wings of love shall bear me back again
Back to the dear old home and the dear friends I’ve known
While engraven on my heart shall be the Hills of Sweet Tyrone.