The Songs We Sang

This is a strong story of determination, love, loss and persistence. There are many songs and stories all wrapped up inside the need to pursue a worthy life.
The beginning of the story sees Ronan, living in New Zealand, reeling after a message from Conor in England to say that their dad, Danny Farrell, has died.
Once again, as with their mother’s passing, only Conor had been able to attend their parent’s funeral.
The reminiscences come racing back over the phone. The frequent ceilidhs in their parents’ house, when the tiles on the roof lifted, are now silenced for a while.
Euan, the eldest, living in Canada, is quickly told the sad news, and he, too, at that stage of his life, is intending at some point to see the graves.
They are all devastated by the news.
Some years later, Conor, Euan and Ronan, decide to meet up and make a ‘pilgrimage’ to Ireland. There is sadness, but a determination to see both graves.
Great characters are met along the way and the singing can be heard for miles.

Author Biography

David Naughton Leavy was born in Cheshire, England.
His parents had eloped respectively from Strokestown and Kilteevan in Ireland and they were married in England in 1942 to start a family together.
Their three sons all attended Grammar Schools and all became teachers. David went to Christ’s College, Liverpool, where he met his future wife, Veronica.
He enjoyed teaching English, Physical Education, and Social Studies at three schools before emigrating to New Zealand.
In New Zealand, he became Principal of St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, Wellington before finishing at Canterbury University as Dean of College House.
He has two sons, now living in England, Austin married to Sarah (two grandchildren Ava and Elise) and Dominic married to Ana (two grandchildren Oliver and Ethan) – all working in or near London and raising families.