Bridie Gallagher was known as the ‘Girl from Donegal’ – she was Ireland’s first international pop star. Her first single, written by Thomas Keenan, was ‘A Mother’s Love’s a Blessing’ which became instant success.
She performed regularly on Sunday Night at the London Palladium – a televised variety show which was shown in Ireland and the UK.
A Mother’s Love’s a Blessing
An Irish boy was leaving
Leaving his native home,
Crossing the broad Atlantic,
Once more he wished to roam,
And as he was leaving his mother,
While standing on the Quay,
He threw his arms around her waist
And this to him did say:
A mother’s love is a blessing,
No matter where you roam.
Keep her while she’s living,
You’ll miss her when she’s gone.
Love her as in childhood,
When feeble, old and grey,
For you’ll never miss a mother’s love
‘Til she’s buried beneath the clay.
And as the years grow onward,
I’ll settle down in life,
And I’ll choose a nice young colleen,
And take her for my wife.
And as the kids grow older,
They’ll play around my knee
And I’ll teach them the very same lesson
That my mother taught to me:
A mother’s love is a blessing,
No matter where you roam.
Keep her while she’s living,
You’ll miss her when she’s gone.
Love her as in childhood,
When feeble, old and grey,
For you’ll never miss a mother’s love
‘Til she’s buried beneath the clay.
Bridie Gallagher singing ‘A Mother’s Love is a Blessing’
