Dear Sir, you know of ninety eight
At sundry time I heard you treat
Of battles that were lost and gained
And how the soil with gore was stained
Perhaps you heard the story told
Of Jack O'Hara brash and bold
Who did such gallantry display
In Ballenamuck the battle day
The like famed Hector did he strike
For freedom with his good long pike
And when he was obliged to yield
And quit the sanguine battle field
Said pike he on his shoulder bore
And took his way for Ballinomore
But with a nimble sturdy gait
He did proceed on his retreat
Until he was three miles away
From where the field of carnage lay
Then out of danger as he thought
But there alas! he had been caught
By yeomen who conveyed him thence
To Mr Nicholl's residence
Where Catholics and not a few