I Travelled Through Munster

  I travelled through Munster bright and fair
  To Doonaree from Durrow, and there
  Even then I found no ease to my care
    But in Tadhg a’ Dúna’s mansion.

  Oh! I dreamed in my mind, in my soul I dreamed,
  That the dead who was dead was living! It seemed
  That the light of our old carousing gleamed
    In the torrents of punch and brandy.

  There was fowl on spits for all to eat,
  And spotless honey and roasted meat,
  And drink; and the music and song were sweet,
    And the baying of hounds and the dancing.

  And a throng passed in and a throng passed out.
  And a throng cast merry old songs about,
  And a throng sang prayers till their bright shout
    Tore Heaven's high house asunder!

  One told me, seeing my wondering gaze,
  That the light of Warner’s love and grace
  Shone now in that glad, sweet, ancient place
    A torch to the poor and plundered.

  ’Tis God the merciful, lordliest of lords,
  Who raised all things from the dust,
  Has given us, prop for the prop we lost,
    This man with the heart of a hundred.

                           Egan O’Rahilly

Source: Irish Statesman, 1926-01-30, p.654