I close my eyes and picture the emerald of the sea
From the fishing boats at Dingle to the shores of Dunardee
I miss the river Shannon and the folks at Skibbereen
The moorlands and the midlands with their forty shades of green
~”Forty Shades of Green” by Johnny Cash
A year ago today was our first full day of a three week trip from the U. S. to Ireland and Scotland. One day as we toured the Ring of Kerry in Ireland, Dennis, our tour guide, played this Johnny Cash song for us.
I remembered the song this morning as I was thinking about our trip. Johnny Cash wrote it in 1959 while he was in Ireland.
We saw at least forty shades of green (and probably more) as we traveled around the beautiful Emerald Isle.





Here is Johnny Cash singing ‘Forty Shades of Green.’
I don’t know when we’ll be able to travel again but until then, I have my wonderful memories.