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From: Margaret Malloy <>
Subject: Irish Poetry-Killaloe Poem
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 19:23:02 -0500
References: <200511301800.jAUI0Hq8031475@lists2.rootsweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <200511301800.jAUI0Hq8031475@lists2.rootsweb.com>


Thank you, Jean, for all the poetry.
You've inspired me to add my own contribution.

The following is a poem I found, hand written in a box of family
papers going back to the 1830s. I have no idea of who wrote it,
copied it or sent it (the back of the sheet is addressed to my great
great great grandfather, Matthew Guinane, Killaloe, Ballina,
Tipperary, Ireland)

This is my title and transcription. Bits of the paper are missing or
the ink is smudged so anything in () is my best guess.

Killaloe Poem

As I was (a)musing one night in me Shame

Of that beautiful Erin the darling of Fame

Assisted me to write something ancient and true

Of that royal and beautiful town Killaloe

First came the Shannon most glorious to see

Excelling all others in every degree

Where steamboats and shipping

Appear in full view

And the Grand Canal flowing

Through sweet Killaloe

How on lovely Shannon of Erin the pride

Where castles romantic and woods on each side

Where Islands and forests ( ) in full view

Shure the city of Dublin can't match Killaloe

As for fishing and fowling and music so sweet

And carriages rolling through every street

Eternally blessed with the sweet mountain view

As it flows like the ocean through sweet Killaloe

S(uc)h ( ) St. Patrick how glorious to meet

And if I was (analive) I would well explore

Of the places around I would have said more

So fill up a bumper and give it its due

There is no place in the world can equal Killaloe

At least two of Matthew's sons spent some time in the Gold Fields of
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia in the 1860s-1880s so I guess one of
them might have sent it, though the handwriting doesn't match the one
son whose handwriting I have elsewhere.

Has anyone ever come across anything like this?

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