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Paddy Murphy
by David Sissons

We found this poem on the Irish Ancestral Pages and asked the author if we could reproduce it here. "TaraDave" kindly gave his permission. We hope you enjoy what seemed to be an appropriate companion piece to our article on Guinness.

As I was standing at Murphy’s bar supping a pint of the brew
Making the craic with Clancy spinning a yarn or two
Into the bar walked Dempsey "a pint of the porter please"
Wiping his brow with a hanky and shaking the dust from his knees
A whistle popped out of his pocket and hid in a cluster of a hand
From the lips of this brazen old navvy came an air so sweet and so grand
The feet in the bar started tapping with fingers dancing a reel
Tim sang a chorus of "Monto" with "The rare old times "from O’Neill
Joe Doyle sang a song from Killarney and Rooney of bold Fenien men
With a tear in the eye each looked to the sky for a Nation to be one once again
Danny arrived with his bodhran and Luke with guitar in his hand
A flute and a couple more whistles sure you’d think the night had been planned
With reeling and jigging abundant and Uncle Arthur greasing the throat
Gallagher got the place howling reminiscing McGinty’s old goat
When the time came for calling "last orders" nobody wants to go home
It looked like the party was over when the night was saved by Malone
Malone rushed up to Pat Murphy begged his pardon for being so late
"For a pint I’ll take out my fiddle" to be sure Paddy’s taken the bait
He dropped down his pint with one mouthful and then he commenced to say
"I took out my fiddle for one pint for another you’ll be hearing me play"
Sergeant Kelly stood firm in the doorway told Murphy to close for the evening
"It’s too late for anyone entering and too early for anyone leaving"
Malone again took up his fiddle and stuffed it under his chin
Gliding his bow as if magic to stop would have been mortal sin
As nightfall submits to morning with the banshees lament in refrain
The old men finally stopped singing but they’ll be back tonight once again.

Many thanks, David - if we're ever in your vicinity, we'll stand you a pint...or two!

Image of the fiddler:Irish ABroad free postcard collection

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