From the recording MAGDALEN
ACT TWO Aoife learns that her mother Magdalen was one of the girls that was buried in an unmarked grave, exhumed and later cremated by the Sisters of Charity at High Park Dublin.
Lyrics
ASHES TO ASHES
Gary O’Driscoll © 2026
CHAPEAU ROUGE MUSIC
[Verse 1]
One by one they entered the gate
To meet a harsh and lonely fate
Behind cold walls they toiled each day
Where faith and hope did fade away
[Verse 2]
Now smoke has drifted o’er the sky
And silent spirits seem to cry
One hundred fifty-five did fall
And flame did soon consume them all
[Chorus]
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
Do what you do
For all of us
Though ashes fall
And dust does lie
Their names shall never
Ever die
[Verse 3]
Though truth may walk a winding road
Its fading light still shares the load
Where ashes fall and dust does lie
Their names shall never, ever die
[Chorus]
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
Do what you do
For all of us
Though ashes fall
And dust does lie
Their names shall never
Ever die
[Outro]
Though ashes fall
And dust does lie
Their names shall never
Ever die