On Monday night, July 20th, 2009, the great Eric Bogle held a capacity crowd spellbound in The Village Arts Centre in Kilworth. It was one of those nights when you knew you were in the midst of something really special, something truly unique. And while this legendary singer/songwriter spoke of his delight in playing in such an intimate setting, something about the place had touched his spirit.

The legendary singer/songwriter, so well known for classic songs such as 'The Green Fields of France', 'Leaving Nancy' and 'Waltzing Matilda'  to name but a few, had come to Ireland for what he categorically stated was to be his 'final tour'. He told of having a special place in his heart for Ireland, not least he said, because covers by artists from Ireland have probably paid his mortgage for the last 15 years.

This was his first time to Kilworth and the old church and surrounding churchyard really took his fancy, not least the impeccable state that both were in. Having an hour or two to kill, he strolled among the headstones and became particularly interested in one, that of 19 year-old James Nash who was killed by an articulated lorry on the 5th of February, 2000 on the N8 at Kilcrumper as he walked home after a night out.

Bogle would, later that night, meet with James's father Jim, who attended the concert. It was ironic that James's favourite song had been 'The Green Fields of France' which was a huge hit in the 1990s for The Furey Bros & Davy Arthur. As the story unfolded regarding James's tragic death, the Scottish native now resident in Australia, was aware that a song was beginning to form in his mind.

That night as always, he and his good friend John Monroe, put on an emotional and spell-binding performance. He dedicated one of his songs to young James whose remains were lying just a few short yards away from the stage on which he was performing.

He reminisced of sleeping out on the banks of the Murray-Darling river in south eastern Australia when he saw the light from a particularly bright star in the southern sky. It occurred to him that, even though the star has ceased to exitst with thousands, probably billions of years, the light from that star was still travelling - liking it to people such as James who had died, their memory still providing light to those who were left behind.

Some twelve months or so later, Eric Bogle had composed 'Song For James' and went on to record it in his next album, A Toss Of The Coin. The song tells of the work of James's dad and his care for the cemetery:

"And then James's father to do his son's memory honour

Began to tend to the graves of all who lay there,

So that maybe his son would rest easier knowing

He was sleeping surrounded by love and care."

Jim Nash has, singlehandedly, transformed what was once an overgrown and unsightly graveyard to the well kept burial grounds we see today.

Jim's most prized possession is an autographed copy of the CD. Eric Bogle, in correspondence with Jim, admits that it took several attempts to complete the song.

"It's a great honour to think that possibly one of the top songwriters in the world of this particular musical genre, would have taken an interest in our story and to write a beautiful song.  If it was never about James, it is a lovely song for people to enjoy as the tragedy that befell us, is a common-place occurrence on a daily basis all over the world."

'SONG FOR JAMES'

On the road from Fermoy that leads through to Kilworth

Foot sore and weary and chilled to the bone,

On a dark winter's morning young James was walking

After a night out in Fermoy he was heading back home.

Out of the darkness the big truck came rolling

A scream of brakes and a cry of despair,

Nineteen short years of caring and nurture

Bright dreams for the future they all ended there.

They buried young James in the old Kilworth churchyard

Tears fell like rain for a lost son,

Tears for a young life too soon cruelly taken

And tears for the long empty years still to come.

And above them the clouds in their tumbling profusion

Like a dark mourning shroud hung over them all,

While a cold winter wind with moaning and sighing

Stirred the dead leaves lying against the old churchyard wall.

Now the old church in Kilworth had been deconsecrated

And the building became a home for the Arts,

So that much like before all the people attended

Till hope filled their souls and joy filled their hearts.

But the graveyard had long been ignored and neglected

Weeds and tall grass covered the ground,

Many of the graves had been left unattended

And broken headstones unmended lay scattered around.

And then James's father to do his son's memory honour

Began to tend to the graves of all who lay there,

So that maybe his son would rest easier knowing

He was sleeping surrounded by love and care.

And though many said it's the grief that consumes him

When the grief fades he'll stop so he will,

Grief may well fade but love is what lasts now

Twelve years have passed now he's doing it still.

Last summer I stood listening outside the old church in Kilworth

As the sweet sound of music from the concert inside,

Drifted over that lovely green well tended graveyard

The symbol of a father's grief, love and pride.

And as the beauty and the peace of that timeless moment

Gently wrapped round my heart and held it enthralled,

A warm summer breeze over James's grave blowing

Stirred the bright flowers growing against the old churchyard wall.

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