Pat Connors And Johnny Murphy Poem by Francis Duggan

By the Shamrock bridge near Cullen where the two rivers meet
Where the Araglen joins the Blackwater between Rathmore and Millstreet
Lived Pat Connors and Johnny Murphy in eternal rest they lay
They did not live to be old men to be slow and bent and gray

Pat Connors in his prime years was a very fit athlete
And he and his brother Richard and Jim Twohig for Ballydaly
hard to beat
And that was in the seventies twenty five years back or more
And a lot of water since then has flown to Atlantic shore.

Pat Connors was a good bloke he had in him so much good
And if he cared about you he would help you if he could
He had all of the human frailties and those who knew him will recall
That he went to the reaper early, the reaper who will claim us all.

Johnny Murphy he was different never in the public eye
He was a low key sort of fellow and he did seem rather shy
But life must have been hard on him he did not wish to grow old
And may he rest in peace forever for he had a 'heart of gold'.

In the fields by the Blackwater they will never more be seen
But when Spring comes to Duhallow with her wildflowers and her green
We'll remember Pat and Johnny who walked on these banks before
Where Araglen joins Blackwater between Millstreet and Rathmore.