Category Archives: Uncategorized

Beyond the end of the road I knew a place like that Sure they are everywhere in Ireland On that you can hang your hat   But today I saw a new place A land they call Uggool The Eagle’s egg the name means And boy is this place cool   The Lost Valley it’sContinue reading “Uggool ~ The Lost Valley”

  I stepped outside on this warm day I had to go for milk My neighbour Gerry offered a lift God bless folk of his ilk He’s kind but I declined Only going up the road But I smiled as he drove on So good to live beside People you can rely upon   AndContinue reading “Human Family”

Lookit they say in Ireland Idou in ancient Greek Cop yourself on why don’t you Here is the one you seek People looking for signs When right before their eyes Stands the honest man From the God of all surprise   To take our flesh and live our life To be as one of usContinue reading “Greater Than Solomon”

What does it mean to be well? What does it mean to heal? When is a person healthy? When is a person real?   All my life I have been fairly fit But really my life was repressed By religious formation And deprivation But you never would have guessed   To take a child beforeContinue reading “The Journey”

  If you love me feed me Clothe me hold me shelter me Let me know the warmth of home Lay me down to sleep Help me grow develop Help me find my way And when I leave you all behind I’ll come back some day   I had a happy home A happy familyContinue reading “Growing Up”

She came from Coore in County Clare A little place you know And she founded The Little Way In London long ago A roof blew off a chapel Out in the Philippines Her brother wrote and told her What will I do she schemed   She started with a jumble sale To try and raiseContinue reading “Mary Doohan (1917 – 2008)”

The old place sold again One hundred thousand Euro The old ancestral home The Loftus/Fahy condo That cottage on the shoulder A poor and humble place Not now – transformed in splendour A house of warmth and grace   But not for me – you can’t go back Life is all ahead Memories may beContinue reading “A House Restored”

St Andrews Chariots of fire Tiger Woods the walking wounded Old golfers here retire Freedom of the Town for Jack For some it spelt despair Doug Saunders Adam Scott The Claret Jug not there   I came here first in ‘73 With Chris I walked the sands And then the hotel for a meal YoungContinue reading “The Old Course”

My father loved to drive a car On holiday in Ireland Sunny day and window down Elbow on the ledge Cigarette and Irish breeze I can see him yet But this was leisure driving And even when at home He never drove at speed He liked to come on home   He taught my brotherContinue reading “Car Crash”

The sacred heart of Jesus The silence of a church Flickering of a sanctuary lamp Encourages the search A peaceful heart we’re looking for A place to be at rest Labour and overburdened We seek our own dear nest   Yet every day we travel From early morn till dusk All our calm unravels WhoContinue reading “The Peaceful Heart”

I lifted him up to the ceiling His delight was mine A father and his son Our living days entwine Now that child looks after me Brings children of his own Grandsons I can play with Never left alone   I will not leave you orphans The promise of the Lord The Spirit I willContinue reading “My Brothers And Sisters”

In the days of our retirement What are we to do? No different than we’ve always done Be good to me and you The question to Pope Francis Were he to step down He said he’d go and settle In another part of town   And go each day into the church And sit thereContinue reading “Autumn Years”

“If you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all.’ Isaiah 7:9   Speaking truth to power Is a phrase we like to hear For power can get out of hand And truth is ever dear And truth is now disputed Who will you believe? When powerful men know everything And conspire toContinue reading “Stand By Me”

I see a name and feel again connection With people I have never ever known Back in my father’s father’s place A place he left hoping to return But in the end he left for good And came to Tyldesely town My grandmother could not settle In an Ireland not her own So granddad wasContinue reading “Are We Related?”

My father’s health broke at 44 He had to leave the pit Pneumoconiosis Coal miner’s lung disease The pit then war then the pit again Some folk have all the luck He suffered some depression For a life he’d spent in muck   What about us Saint Peter said We’ve given up everything What areContinue reading “What About Us?”