John Sing Poem by Francis Duggan

On days of celebration when the Pipe Band played up and down
He beat his drum to Celtic tunes through the streets of Millstreet Town
Scotland the brave, The west awake and the oft played Danny Boy
And people standing on the sidewalks clapped as the band went by.

They piped the tunes the old time tunes the Irish love to hear
And John Sing beat upon his drum sweet music to the ear
And the young girl on the sidewalk to her mother's coat did cling
Mum who is the happy man with drums is that the great John Sing?

My first memories of John Sing were when he wore the Millstreet green
When he was a star forward with the Millstreet football team
With Toots and William Leary, John Daly and Mister O
When I was a young fellow more than forty years ago.

Just thinking of those happy days bring all of the memories back
When cheers rang out in Macroom Park with Millstreet on attack
And Sing as usual doing his bit for glory and Millstreet
Those were the days when Millstreet were the hardest team to beat.

A character with heart of gold and to his own place true
And if he could not help you out he would not hinder you
He worked as a tailor for Mister O and so good at his trade
And the first tailor made suit that I ever wore by that man Sing was made.

With the 'Dago' and and the 'Lefty' he set up the attack
When Millstreet were a football force the memories come back
Of Cormac Dinneen and Brendan Moynihan who mixed it with the best
And Connie Kelleher young and dashing then and now in eternal rest

Dan Leary and Johnny Keeffe shut some good forwards down
And J J Henchion from Canovee in Millstreet knew renown
And the backbone of the team was Toots he gave opponents hell
And Matt McAuliffe in those days always served Millstreet well.

Mick Cashman and Mick Byrnes take me down the years of time
When I was just a young fellow and Sing was in his prime
The ball came up from midfield and Sing was off like a car
An accurate kick and the cheers rang loud as it sailed above the bar

The Millstreet Pipe Band will be out again on Patrick's Day
And people on the sidewalks clap as through the Town they play
And the favoured colour of the day as always will be green
But one face will be missed from there John Sing will not be seen