The local primary schoolchildren of today (Annalong and Moneydarragh Primary schools) composed this musical tribute to Jamie Crawford, and those other Mourne men who perished in the construction of the Silent Valley reservoir.
The town of Belfast was growing so fast
And something would have to be done
You couldn’t rely on the water supply
At the height of the summer sun:
So a plan it was laid for a dam to be made
By the banks of the River Kilkeel
And Carson it was who cut the first sod
In nineteen twenty-three.
Here’s to the men, the Mourne men
The gallant, hearty clan
Here’s to the men, the Mourne men
Who built the valley dam.
It wasn’t long till Annalong
Was in a noisy jam
With shipments of equipment
For the Silent Valley Dam
And to transport them from the port
A railway line did leave
To run through Moneydarragh
Up to Binnion and Moolieve.
Here’s to the men, the Mourne men
The gallant, hearty clan
Here’s to the men, the Mourne men
Who built the valley dam.
In the dark of the night the flickering lights
Came winding up the brae
From round Kilcoo, Rathfriland too
Before the break of day
The boys of Ballymartin, Attical and Ballyrea
From Leestone and the Longstone
All are ready for the fray.
Here’s to the men, the Mourne men
The gallant, hearty clan
Here’s to the men, the Mourne men
Who built the valley dam.
The work was rough and times were tough
As you may understand
And eight good men, the met their end
While working on the Dam.
But now the breezes sing their peace
Across this lovely land
To praise the men, the Mourne men
Who built the Valley Dam.
Here’s to the men, the Mourne men
The gallant, hearty clan
Here’s to the men, the Mourne men
Who built the valley dam.