Classic Poem

The good town of Carrigdun has acres hill and holm to show,
Turbary upon the moors and corn upon the loam to show —
Cows in calf and cows in milk! See them feed together,
On the rich braes of Carridgun their udders on the heather!
And foot old Ireland up and down: by hilly lands and hollow,
It's Carrigdun to take the lead whatever roads you follow!
The good men of Carrigdun are mighty men and merry men,
For working and for drinking these good men are the very men!
The hardest task in all the land and they're the ones to dare it!
The burden that their backs can't bear no other backs will bear it!
And models, every man of them of strength, grit and sincerity,
As witnesseth their spoken word, their honour and prosperity!

The large heart and lavish hand the wives of Carrigdun possessed,
And none went hungry in the land, for some to all when one possessed,
But none went poor! For stock and store the thrifty wives were rich in —
Butter butts in the pantry stored, sticks of eels in the kitchen —
And travel left and travel right, and take all as you find it,
It's Carrigdun a league in front, and other towns behind it!

The coolens fair of Carrigdun! Their worth? Go, take as token,
The light feet that step a reel; the strong hearts hourly broken!
By day beneath the creels of kelp the dear white feet are moving,
At night — " The night is ours, " they say. " For that's the time for loving. "
Come, scrape the fiddle! Foot the reel! The time is now or never!
Bold men, good wives and pretty girls and Carrigdun for ever!