A Bowler Hat And Sash Poem by Liam ó Comáin

Things were not always O.K.
In that small market town
Where Orangeism reigned
And Catholic Irish were second.
Where I tried to understand a
People whose allegiance was
Not to our island home and whose
Image was encapsulated in a
Bowler hat with an orange sash.

Yet, I bear no ill will to those
Neighbours of the 40s,50s and 60s,
With their intimidating Lambeg drums
And sectarian vindictiveness... for
If anything it is love for we Irish are a
Product of our history- a river of two
Streams- planters from other lands
And descendents of a Celtic invasion
Synthesised into the Roe man and woman.

Thus imprinted in my consciousness
To the very roots of my being is a racial
Cocktail of historical importance; and
Beyond the reality of religious allegiance
And inspite of- life was good in that town
Where a dog leapt into history....