I live in Ireland but this breaks my heart 💔 I could never imagine leaving this isle but back then, people were in desperate circumstances and travelled to the unknown… all they could do was hope it was better. No internet and trip advisors then. God bless them all ❤

I dedicate this to my Uncle Joe who has never beeun found in San Francisco Bay when his boat turned over when fishing!Sheelagh will never forget you!You will always be in her heart!Do R.I.P.

Zim English and there is no better sound than Irish traditional music ,love it Keith j x

I love this song . As someone whose both parents came through Ellis Island over 100years ago . One from Mayo and one from Monahan .

Well ,,,,,it doesn’t get any better than this ,,,,,,,I’m a great dubliners fan ,,,,,and since there’s only John left ,,,it’s great to see a band coming along and keeping up this standard of traditional music ,,,,,I think you will get a lot of fans singing songs of this calibrate ,,,,,,ta

Sleep tight sweet Joe (13 years old) now an Angel loved this song 💙💙💔

I adore this song and band. All of my grandparents came through Ellis Island from England, Ireland and Scotland. Their courage lives in me.❤

Great song! I'm mostly of Irish heritage from primarily East Galway, with North Kerry, Limerick, Mayo and Waterford. I've had ancestors come from Ireland from different times in the 19th century and they all married either Irish-Americans or other Irish immagrants. One fact remains, their love for their heritage. Their love for the land of their forefathers. I'm proud of my green blood and so thankful for their sacrifices that went before me.

So beautiful. Thanks Lads , a wonderful job you are doing spreading the songs of Ireland. I listen with a loving pride.

This is superb Captures the soul of the song brilliant.... As a former emigrant 20 years stateside... This song has a special place i mo chroí... Thank God I made it home... Maith sìbh..😷

Thanks for playing it again its so emotional especially with all the Americans who now dwell there for Covid!God bless America!May they all R.I.P.

Beautiful, Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL !!! Carry on Guyz and Spirt of Ireland 🎇 EVERMORE 💛🌠

Wonderful! Especially as having visited Ellis Island, the Irish communities of NYC, and of course knowing Ireland..

a band of legends. I remember them playing in the boe Inn on a stage made of pallets. fair play to them. talented boys. donkeys Abu..

How in the HELL have I never heard these guys before? They are remarkable, the vocals are amazing, I cant stop listening to them!

Absolutely beautiful song.🇦🇺🇮🇪

Am ballin like a waine! What a voice, thanks for sharing.

Love from belfast, ireland🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

Without doubt the best rendition of this beautiful song, well done guys.

I really love this song it’s very nice I play this every day because it’s my favorite

Immer wieder schön, egal von wem gesungen. Sofort bekomme ich einen Kloß im Hals und die Augen werden feucht.....

Just brilliant new fan love you decicate this wee this song to Justin RIP a child age 22 due to drug abuse heartbroken Granny Bernie

A lovely song. My maternal grandmother, Mary Mahoney, (born 1902) first went to New York when she was a teenager. No doubt she went through Ellis Island when she left County Kerry.

Great band - love your music , hoping to see ye soon live , very passionate signing and makes it so real . Well done lads and keep it going and thanks

Fantastic job. I cover this one myself on occasion. being from Newfoundland we are rich with Irish culture and the songs are carried on here every day. The whislin' Donkeys are certainly a great band. cheers

Beautiful rendition. I think it works so well because the voice is taking the forefront with gentle soft instrument accompaniment

I absolutely love this song. Thanks for sharing guys ❤ from Newfoundland

How did I missed this mesmerizing song? I was reading a novel where the protagonist sings this song and the audience were all teary. so I came to YT to listen how much heart-touching is it. Well, I'm impressed.

I can't express how much I love this band and this man singing. Fantastic

What a voice ..omg

Could listen to this mans voice all day long keep her lit feargal

1882 the plight of millions of people seekling refuege 2020 the plight of millions seelkng refuege from wartorn middle east god bless them

This song and Fergal's wonderful voice touched me somewhere down in the deep currents of my soul because it made me think of my paternal grandfather who went through Ellis island from county Kilkenny many years ago. I got a little emotional but don't tell anyone, men aren't supposed to be like that.

Probably the best version going. Absolutely brilliant

love this song, reminds me of home even though I'm only away 2 weeks in liverpool

Never has a sad song been so beautiful.

Absolutely brilliant version 👏👏👏👏👏👏

absolutely brilliant, loved that, well done guys

Our absolute favorite rendition of this song. We're delighted to discover the Whistling Donkeys!

This is how this song should Sound. Thanks

Beautiful. Great job, lads. Regards from Germany.

[Couplet 1] On the first day of January 1892 They opened Ellis Island and they let the people through And the first to cross the threshold of that isle of hope and tears Was Annie Moore from Ireland who was all of 15 years Isle of hope, isle of tears Isle of freedom, isle of fears But it’s not they isle you left behind That isle of hunger, isle of pain Isle you’ll never se again But the isle of home is always on your mind [Couplet 2] In a little bag, sur carried all her past and history And her dreams for the future in the land of liberty And courage is your passport when your old world disappears But there’s no future in the past when you’re 15years Refrain When they closed down Ellis Island in 1943 17 million people had come there for sanctuary And in the springtime when I came here and stepped onto its piers I throught of how it must have been when you’re 15 years Refrain

awesome job guys, love this song , so much meaning and a great tribute to those who came before us. much of my family history is from Ireland, O'Keefe from county Tipperary and Ducey from Dungarvin, they settled in Newfoundland but never the less left Ireland due to hardship with hope for a better future. They passed on the culture and here we are several generations on still carrying the love for our Irish history especially the love of the Irish music . keep the music flowing

The seminal event in Irish history, reflected in its politics and casual reference, is the Easter Uprising. There's a fair argument that it should be the post Famine emigration, especially when it comes to the histories of the North Americas and Australasia and that's my take on it. My 8 Great Grandparents emigrated in the late 1840s and early 1850s but to the other side of the World. The beacon that the North Americas and, to a numerically lesser extent, Australasia offered to those poor souls is captured in my mind by the line "17 million people had come there for sanctuary". Thanks to them, we've had good lives. It's a toss up between Whistling Donkeys and Sean Keane's versions, both moving.

My, now favorite, version of this tune. Well done. Thanks.

Powerful 🍀

Well executed lads you have done it well 20 out of 10

First class version.Beautiful voice.

Beautiful. Great vocals. Best version I have heard. So easy to listen to. The way it should be. Top class.

I'm very late comin' to the party, but now that I've heard them, I'm in love! Through a convoluted online search for a rendition of 'When You Were Sweet 16' that touched me, I came upon this voice . . . . this group, and it was settled. Their version, in my humble opinion, is by far the best I've heard. And then I listened to 'Isle of Hope' and through my tears the deal was sealed. This group and especially the lead singer, have a rare something that few groups ever achieve.

The violin solo is class 👌

I love this song and love the way you folks sing it.

His voice is fantastic. This is my favourite of all their songs. ....🤗🤗😘

Wow what a voice these are my new favourite band absolute class❤❤

Great song lads , love the playing and the vocals are super

Love the fiddler player!!!

Now my constant played son . Fantastic group and singer.

To think that so many Irish people never saw their homeland again is heartbreaking.

Lovely, greetings from Ireland.

Never heard of them But there Brilliant Singers & Music love there songs❤❤❤❤❤❤

Fantastic, magic, voice Clare . You did to be near of them in your pub my heart transporter them. Thanks

reminds me of paddy reilly two great voices great band to go with nicely done !!

Wonderful rendition of this moving song. No more Ellis Island. But still a relevant story.

Belle chanson et talent au rdv pour une voix exceptionnelle et de la bonne musique 🎶

Magic lads 💥🎤🎵🎶🍻🍻🍻💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚🙌

Beautiful song...Amazing voice .... sung from the heart....I wish my parents hadn't left Eire.....I would have loved to have been married to an Irish lad.....just like this singer.....My Irish blood runs through my veins, and pulls at my heart strings...

Probably the best version of this song I have heard! Thanks lads.

Pure CLASS

Oh, my heart... thank you, gentlemen.

Class I love the whistling donkeys 🇮🇪😜👍

I love this voice! wished, i had someone around me with such a wonderful voice...

Best version of this song by far ..goosebumps

Top class what a singer

This is a lovely song and Its very well done; When done Boys spot on, Keep it going 🪗🪗🪗Mick.

Brilliant. Both song and band. Up Tyrone

Well done lads ..great stuff ..

Beautiful Song!! TY again.

I love this song!!!

Beautiful lads.

Yes it is, always love you all Northern Ireland and always will............ Always 15 years old please take care of yourself because you are beautiful

Well I see I'm not the only one who cried through this song. My Swedish great-grandfather came through Ellis Island and my Irish great-great-great-grandmother came to NY right before Ellis Island opened. I still carry their history in my cells.

Thank you, what a beautiful song for all immigrants!

Lol listen to it in school and as soon as I got home I couldn't stop listening to it

Great song like if u agree

listening to these lads has got me wanting to start playing the Bodhran again

What a voice

Great song . 😊

Absolutely great.

These guys as as good as it gets

Just love it!

Classe !!!

Great song

What a voice.

Beautiful, go on

Marvelous!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤true irish throughout my life countryside countryside gal 👧 💖 💗 myself 😊😊

Beautiful ❤️

Awesome guys

Excellent lads 👍

Great job lads