Whilst not a whole lot is known about Francis J. Cox’s early years, we hear him tell Tom Munnelly in 1971 that he had a brother and sister and that he was the youngest in the family. He mentions that his brother was shot in Flanders and that his mother died after he was born.
He also claims to have been born in Cornwall and that he came to Ireland in February 1926. In 1971, he tells Munnelly that he is 62 which means that he would have been born in 1909.
He is well remembered around the Annaduff area for being a great character, a composer of local songs and a singer of various traditional songs
Tom Munnelly Recordings
In 1971, ballad colllector Tom Munnelly recorded Frank in Annaduff singing various ballads, some of them local and others from various traditional genres:
Lough Rynn’s Wooded Shores
Molly Bán
The Titanic
In London’s Fair City
Caroline and her Young Sailor Bold
The Paisley Officer
Frank’s Early Life
As well as singing ballads for Munnelly, Tom also spoke a little about his background and about ballad sellers. Ballads here include:
The Paisley Officer
Barbara Allen
Lord Leitrim
A Knock Came to my Bedroom Window
Skibbereen
The Half a Crown
Tim Daly
Compositions
As well as singing well-known ballads from the tradition, Frank wrote and sang many ballads that he submitted to the local papers and other local publications, including songs he had written especially for the underage football teams of Annaduff.
Through his poetry and ballad writing, Frank also gives us an insight into the social history of the area. Here we see two submissions to the “Leitrim Observer”- one in praise of the paper itself and the other marking the opening of the new post office in Aughamore.
Whilst some of his offerings were fairly neutral, like “Mother” from 1972 and “A Soldier’s Funeral” written in 1966 when Frank was in Macloughra, some were more topical like “Jamestown Arch” Tug-o-War, Drumsna vs County Council and personal like his tribute to his great neighbours, Harry, Dorothy and John Thornton.
A Day Cruising on the Shannon
A Tribute to Harry Thornton, his dear wife Dorothy, his son, John, and his jolly and charming sister, Kitty. With sincere appreciation and gratitude for taking us on a very happy day’s cruising on the River Shannon on Sunday, 12th September 1971.
On the 12th day of September in the year of ’71;
That day I’ll ever remember and always think upon.
The morning being bright and clear to Rosebank harbour we then went;
With all hearts full of cheer on a cruiser sail we were bent.
We boarded the massive, elegant craft “Mariner Rose” it was her name.
She was surely well rigged fore and aft this darling palace of great fame.
She started out at 9:30 at the ringing of a church bell:
And after a cottage lane, she went like bloomin’ hell.
Our host and navigator, Harry Thornton, a popular man:
He was the instigator- he’s one of a worthy clan.
Dorothy his loving wife: his sister, Kitty, too:
Who was, I say, the joy and life of all the merry crew.
Paddy Farry and Paddy Dockery, two very decent men:
Tommy Gannon and Bennie Shanley, the same, I'll say of them.
Not forgetting Miss Lavin, Tommy Gannon’s lady friend:
Who were like two staunch cannons, they made fun unto the end.
On board, without any exaggeration, there was no place to grouse:
We had every accommodation that was ever in a house.
Two bedrooms and a toilet there: a shower for a bath:
A kitchenette for the fare, they all came in our path.
A fridge, two cookers, one for gas, the other one for turf:
We viewed them every time we'd pass, as we rode upon the surf.
Dorothy Thornton and Kitty, there good cooking they did do:
It was the most appetising fare that ever yet we knew.
Lots of chickens and chips we had all for the mid-day meal:
And lots of the good old liquor, bedad, that caused us all to reel.
But all being merry then and in such joyful mood.
It mattered not, or where or when, as regards the multitude.
For tea we had some lovely roast, the nicest you could eat.
That I'll say without a doubt: it was a perfect treat.
We had everything we wanted there just take it from the shelf:
Everything I do declare, and the dresser lined with delph.
As darkness came on with electric light, it brightened up the scene.
It was indeed a lovely sight, the grandest ever seen.
It made no matter how dark the night, it seemed to us the same.
For all being in a merry plight, it was indeed fair game.
The “Mariner Rose”, a 6th berth boat, a mighty, charming craft:
She is as good as any afloat, well rigged from fore and aft.
With life-jackets too supplied on board, if needed they’re all there:
A tragedy no one could afford, to that I'll really swear.
The exciting program for the day was dancing, wit and song:
Songs by the gallant Francis J, as we sailed merrily along.
Kitty Thornton with tape recorder there, she taped there all the lot;
And the cheering of the merry crew I'll tell you ‘twas fairly hot.
It brought me back fond memories of my youthful days at home:
Yes, it brought the loving memories of happy days on the Atlantic foam.
Thus through our minds we see the past as time goes on and on.
It's there they'll ever and always last till the breath of life has gone.
Now, to conclude, and end my tale, I wish to say “thank you”
On behalf of all that day did sail to our host, Harry Thornton, so true.
We pray God's blessings on him fall, and all his kith and kin we’ll say;
And whenever He who gives the call, welcome him home on that future day.
