Michael Kelleher Poem by Francis Duggan

He has lived in Australia for forty three years quite a good span of time
He arrived in Victoria in sixty eight six or seven years short of his life's prime
He worked for a few years with one of his mum's brothers his kind uncle Phil
A long way south of Claraghatlea by old Clara Hill.

Some four decades ago he married Rosemary nee Cronan his beautiful and devoted Aussie Wife
They now have grandchildren as their blessing in life
Fond memories of his young years with him remain
But Michael Kelleher's great loss to Millstreet is Australia's gain.

A likeable character to many well known
As a great layer of sewerage and water pipes his reputation in Victoria has grown
As a drainer with the best of them he still does compete
One of the great workmen to come out of Millstreet

Australia has been good to me you will hear him say
But his best memories are of a place far away
Called Claraghatlea where as a boy he often hunted with his black white faced dog
In Matty Owens fields and in Mary O's bog

The Claraghatlea he loved is a changed place today
And time does not wait it keeps on ticking away
Michael Kelleher is aging his best days are gone
But like the great warrior he keeps on keeping on.