Burrishoole

A quiet corner of Clew Bay
Not far from Newport town
You’ll find a world now disappeared
But once of high renown
A friary Dominican
Was built here in the past
Without permission
Of the pope
But a later one said ‘pass’

A quiet lodge opposing sits
On an inlet from the sea
Once owned by a famous rebel
O’Malley he, Ernie
And he not the only one
To bear that name round here
The pirate queen
Called Grace
Has a castle you can see

The Barony is Burrishoole
Its history holds fear
The friary it boasts the grave
Manus Sweeney lies here
A priest he was he spoke some French
Talking with Humbert’s men
Enough to send him to the gallows
In English justice then

This peaceful corner
Holds these homes
Defences against the cold
A castle to ward of enemies
Invaders of old
A lodge to keep a family
Sheltered from the wind
Friary to welcome homeless ones
And those who might have sinned

I often walked among these stones
That look quietly on the sea
And thought of people long since gone
Who lived here peacefully
A sheltered corner safely hid
From any marauding band
Where people quietly live today
In Mayo’s pleasant land

Brian Fahy
15 May 2021