The Garngad Irish

From Patrick’s hills and glens they came,

Their faith in God, each man's the same.

To build a canal and St Rollox Railway,

Two schools to learn and a Chapel to pray.

Men made of Cork, Canons both,

Collins and Lawton, they kept their oath.

From 13 counties came 32,

To baptise and save me and you.

From Antrim in search of heaven,

James Thompson picked the Roch Guild’s best eleven.

McGhabyn the poor and his culture treasured,

And upon his death the Dial remembered.

From Tyrone via Treaty Stone, Peader McAleer,

From Monaghan, All-Ireland Champion, McNulty we hear.

In '57 they gave Irish music it’s just deserved,

And Gaelic tongue they both preserved.

'Mick Garngad' from Inishowen,

'The Good and The Bad' had a bard of its own,

He wrote of Connolly the worker’s man,

And Liam and Charles who Smashed the Van.

Now up on the hill our voices did roar,

When Chalmers our Lion in Lisbon did score.

And McGrory too - who could give more?

A manager and player 500 did score.

In green and white we watched our bhoys,

For all they done we still make noise.

We wrote of John Thompson and many more,

League, Scottish, Mungo, Coronation and European Cups galore.

Now this I tell is the truth,

So lets all raise the roof!

Remember wherever you trod:

Be proud ‘cos you belong to the ‘Garden of God’

John P Sweeney

St Patrick's Day 2006

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