On An Email From Kate O Connor Poem by Francis Duggan

An email from Kate O Connor one i visually did know
A sibling of younger friends of mine from many years ago
She went off to live in England where she still lives today
Still it was nice to hear from her from all of those miles away.

She asked about 'The Boys of Coolikerane Bog' a long forgotten rhyme
That i penned many years ago lost in the sands of time
And time for none does seem to wait it just ticks on and on
And only memories of the past the past forever gone.

'The Boys of Coolikerane Bog' would make the bones of a good song
But the boys back then now ageing men and no longer as fit and strong
As the Boys of Coolikerane Bog who chased the ball around
On Summer evenings and on sundays across the uneven ground.

Con D's boys Denis, Connie and Patie, Maurice and Foxy John
And the youngest of the Tarrants the hard as nails young Con
And the Cahill brothers Dan and John are two that come to mind
And big Mick Murphy strong as a horse to rough play was inclined.

Shannaknuck's Maurice O Connor in eternal rest now lay
Some evenings to the old bog he used to come to play
And brothers Jerry and Michael O Connor they loved the bogland game
But nothing lasts forever and nothing stays the same.

And often heated disagreements but a fight never broke out
For we were only youngsters then one might say full of mouth
And we were all for winning then and the winning side did crow
And to the egos of the losers defeat a heavy blow.

An email from Kate O Connor did help to make my day
She went to live in England and there she chose to stay
She talked of The Boys of Coolikerane Bog the boys now long past their prime
Who played football in the old bog going back decades of time.