I was a catholic boy
In a protestant town
Of Irish family
Living on English ground
Interesting perspective
From the very start
Questions of allegiance
Questions of the heart
Antipathies lay dormant
Peace was all I knew
Tyldesley folk were friendly
An English Irish stew
Centenaries are ringing out
In Ireland today
The tragedy of the Treaty
Lloyd George’s clever play
Those times were times of bloodshed
Millions had died
A little blood in Ireland
To save the Empire’s pride
And Collins the great hero
Tall and handsome man
Fighting for his country
Always on the run
Unfinished business flared again
The Troubles took its toll
And innocents were killed again
Their names in honour roll
How easily our blood can boil
Especially when we’re young
How easily our life can end
In the using of a gun
Rights and wrongs are everywhere
Once the fighting starts
So persevere in dialogue
For the unity of hearts
Brian Fahy
11 December 2021
Erris Poetry 