Duhallow Greats Poem by Francis Duggan

Sports people who in the Sporting World are and were widely known
Sporting greats that Duhallow can claim for it's own
People who are known Worldwide in many a city and town
One can say of them they have earned their renown

Of the great Olympians one always held in high esteem
Derrygallon's Pat O Callaghan the hammer thrower supreme
World record holder and two times Olympic Champion in his prime the World's best
The man never found to be wanting when put to the test

Noel C Duggan the owner of the Green Glens arena in sports and entertainment has carved his own renown
He has brought top class showjumping, World championship boxing and the Eurovision Song Contest to Millstreet Town
Far from the Town by Clara and Duhallow's countryside
The genial Noel C is known and loved Worldwide

In Rallying Banteer's Jer Buckley and his cousin Billy Coleman of Millstreet
Against the best in the World with success did compete
The first of the Duhallow rally drivers to become famed and widely known
At their best they were in a class of their own

Willie Neenan the runner the pride of Millstreet
Many times Cork, Munster and All Ireland Champion an amazing athlete
A World Championship silver medal to add to his housefull of trophies in his amazing sixty years running span
May he rest in peace now the marvelous man

In Australia at rallying Charlie Drake and Eoin Moynhan for Duhallow fly the flag
And in their many successes there something that's well worthy of a brag
On the tough outback roads they are among the very best
And are never found to be wanting when put to the test

The Clouting Celt Pat O Connor the Pride of Kiskeam and Boherbue
He was Duhallow's greatest boxer as most would agree
The Irish Middleweight Champion in the nineteen forties that is going back in time
He fought the best in Europe and the World when he was in his prime

From Carriganimma in Muskerry on the Duhallow border between Macroom and Millstreet Town
In 1908 in London Con Walsh for Canada threw his hammer to bronze and Olympic renown
As well as a great hammer thrower a star for Clondrohid and Cork in gaelic football
In Carriganimma Village a stone memorial in his memory his greatness to recall

From her old home in Tullig thousands of miles away
Stella Cashman won a World Championship bronze medal for walking for the U S of A
Now into her seventh decade her's is a legendary name
No other walker from Duhallow has known of such great fame

In the Sporting World the best of Duhallow people known almost everywhere
They proved themselves against the best in the big World out there
In centuries from now history will recall
That in the World of Sports they were Duhallow's greatest of all.