Lower Church Street

Lost Souls

I found this sad poem on the internet

LOST SOULS

Sitting alone at the bar in Kilburn

Mid afternoon on a mid Summers day

Wearing a suit stained with blood, sweat and booze

Drinking the last of this months rent 

He took the boat in 57

Leaving behind Mayo

Full of hope and fear

An address in his pocket

For a ganger and a start 

Money for a week to tide him over

Sunday best on his back 

New shoes squeezing his feet 

No Irish need apply

Lodgings hard found

Working every hour god sent

Paid in the crown at the weekend

Missing home, laughs to hide the pain

Another from the top shelf 

Saving for the summer holiday

Putting a little by 

Back home for a week to the old sod

Buying pints for the lads

Bragging about the wages

Gold chains around the neck

Bought from a suitcase

When did you get home?

When are you going back?

Back to back breaking in blighty

Years passing on

Body getting tired

Drink taking hold 

No money for the holidays

Or the funerals at home 

Nights in the doss house

Sleeping on the rope

Days on the streets 

Dreams of a long gone family

Passing away in the cold

(C) Kevin McManus

This sculpture, The Crying Stone by Colm Brennan

A Few More Hospice Morning Photos

Tidy Town Work

The Tidy Town organisation is about so much more than litter picking and tidying up. The replacement of these important tourist information signs is just one of their many unsung contributions to making Listowel the lovely place it is to live in, to work in or to visit.

Book Promoting in Kanturk

Kanturk looked very autumnal on my recent visit.

Noreen O’Sullivan has a keen interest in local history.

I met Alison Murphy in Presents of Mind. My book is now available in this lovely gift shop on O’Brien Street.

Eilish O’Connor in the beautiful welcoming Olde Worlde Alley Bar bought 3 books to give to family at Christmas.

A Fact

After its catastrophic collision with the iceberg it was a full 2 hours and 40 minutes before The Titanic sank.

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