From his homeland near the southern coast,
On past the Munster Blackwater he came,
Full three and a half decades ago
Towards the northern river of similar name;
He was bringing his expertise as he came.
‘Mongst the hardworking folk of the drumlin hills,
So much reclaimation had yet to be done,
And need was there for a man of his skills,
And this handsome young man with golden voice,
They took to him indeed first rate,
Not his a thousand ships to launch,
But (as many) projects to propagate.
Nor satisfied he with the limits of duty,
On a voluntary basis he was ever on call,
Wherever (there) was a scheme of use to the people,
Experienced, he would be helpful to all.
A community centre has got well under way,
And a water supply badly needed has been,
Just a few major projects his enthusiasm nurtured,
In the forefront organising he was ever to be seen
Brought up in a place where hurling a creed was,
Alas he was now where scarce mentioned ‘twould be,
But soon gave support to the parish footballers,
And at their many victories exultant was he.
The choir on a Sunday he turned it to grand opera,
And on all social occasions his prowess was known,
And with hackneyed old songs,
That seemed aged and balded,
He gave them a rest and wrote one of his own.
Sad the call of his homeland irresistibly ringing,
And the folk of the drumlin hills grieved he must go,
Though conscious how much he’ll be missed from amongst them,
His longings decree that it just must be so.
They see grass grow now where once there was scrub-land,
The flood where it should be, through blocked drains relieved,
Mechanised means replaced the slow motion,
Kavanagh’s stony-grey soil a new status achieved.
Athletics and artistry making good progress,
The able show committee good tidings can tell,
And believe it or not the cult of the caman now?
A force it may soon be amongst us as well.
Gains indeed, but much he’s gained also,
Since that day long ago from home he set forth,
Most of all his good wife he met in this region,
Must make him feel happy he traveled up north.
Fascinated could be by habits and customs
Quaint dialect words recondite but not rude
And down all the years like a true hearted Corkman,
Intriguing , his accent all challenge withstood.
So pleasure and peace to him and his wife,
To them when Blackwaters once more they have changed,
And the wishes of those who have known them so long,
Heavens blessings for them everyday be arranged.
Dick Walshe was a next door neighbour who worked in North Monaghan as a “Department Man”