School: Abbeytown Convent N.S. (roll number 15043)

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1. Local Songs (continued)

   “Like a sad strain of bardic music old”

   

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   (continued from previous page)

   On church and shrine the Tudor tyrant fell.
   IV
   One glorious day upon my vision breaks
   When monk and priest in gleaming vestments dight [?]
   Gathered with many a prelate, many a knight,
   And the high chiefs of the twin guardian lakes -
   Lough key, Lough Gara, whence thy river takes,
   Its foaming birth in limpid waters bright -
   To bless thy church with rich liturgic rite
   That down the years still echoing music makes."

   The above was written by Patrick Coleman, who at present resides in Toronto and it is a description of Boyle Abbey after its suppression.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

2. Local Songs

   “Daughter of Mellifont and fair citeaux,”

   

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   I
   Daughter of Mellifont and fair citeaux,
   Thou whom Kings loved and Lords of high estate,
   How art thou ruinous and desolate?
   How are thou sunk in bitterness and woe?
   Beside thy river's unconsoling flow.
   How mournest thou in grief disconsolate,
   Thy glory vanquished by untoward fate
   And all thy queenly loveliness brought low.
   II
   Ah! bitter hour for Erin and for thee
   When ruthless heresies rapacious Lords
   Like slimy dragons crawling from the seas
   Ravished thy beauty with their vandal hordes!
   And now the harp upon its willow tree

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Eithne Mc Laughlin

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Rockingham, Co. Roscommon

   Informant

   Patrick J. Coleman

   Gender

   Male