I'm an Englishman in my mid-sixties and I have wonderful memories of Paddy lodgers in our poor house working on the M1. Wow! That was around 1960. Such wonderful men. Big and joyful. Generous and gifted with life. Making money through hard work and a future unfolding. They reckoned the digs were the best this side of the water. I reckon their company was one of the best things in my life.

This is another marvellous story and so true in many ways. What a voice Luke had. My wife nursed Luke in Hospital

God forbid the time when my father isn’t here anymore….

This is a hard song to listen to when you're not at home in Ireland........

If God had a voice it would sound exactly like Luke's

There is no one that can sing with such amazing conviction, whether its about patriotism, family, love, intimacy, humor, Luke Kelly sings it perfectly, amazing singer and character that no one could compare to. RIP Luke

Anyone else get goosebumps from the start to the end?

One of my top three of Luke Kellys songs. What a magical control of his voice he had. Id give my right arm to hear him sing this in a small pub with a pint in the hand. Oh how all the worries would disappear for those few precious minutes! Luke Kelly I salute you.

I got drunk one night singing the old songs and spilled my guts in a comment on KZfaq and for the first time people with similar feelings are talking about it with me. For whatever reason, I actually resent it. It brings up those feelings more often than I like.

"I must away now, i can no longer tarry..." Adios, Luke, you could no longer tarry, but your words last forever! Rest in peace, big heart of Ireland!

I'm Tunisian, I've been living in Ireland (Cork) for the last 14 years, and this beautiful song sang by an insanely beautiful voice always tear me up. Only Luke Kelly ladies and gentlemen. RIP.

Luke captures the feeling of all who left their homelands to make enough for their family to survive, and does it with only his voice and his banjo. What a fantastic performer.

The most touching voice. This song breaks me.

Brought a tear to my eye. Hits so close to home. The man was a genius.

beautiful song sung by the greatest balladeer that ever come out of ireland. we love and miss you luke

How can it be that this song makes me homesick for a place I have never been and to feel the emotion of the child and the parent?

Luke Kelly inspires deep and sacred feellings to me. As an offering to him I wish to translate as many of his songs as I can into my catalan language:

This is such a beautiful song. And the way Luke Kelly sang!

Im a proud Irish women i love my country ☘💚 but years ago my husband had 2 go 2 england cos they was no work here in Ireland every night id sing this 2 me boys now my boys sing it 2 dere sons a true irish song brings tears 2 my eyes a true irish man very true words it goes back generations in my family from dublin Ireland ☘💚☘💚☘💚☘💚😊

I sang this song to each of my babies in their mothers belly and believe it or not they recognised it when they was born until this day 7 years on . Rip like never a better singing Irish man to this day .