School: Teach Mhic Conaill (roll number 15614)
- Location:
- Taghmaconnell, Co. Roscommon
- Teacher: M. Ó Tuathaig
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0270, Page 076
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- XML “A Local Song”
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On this page
A Local Song
“Up to the top of the golden stair,”
Up to the top of the golden stair
A man and a woman ascended there,
They applied for admission, they came and stood
before Saint Peter so great and good.
The man was short and thick and stout, and his stomach was built as it rounded out.
The woman was tall and lank and thin, with a shaggy beard upon her chin.
The clouds stood still while the echoes woke, and the man stood still while the woman spoke,
"I've been to the Ballinasloe Urban Councel twice a week,
and on both occasions I stood up and speak.
I spoke so loud and I spoke so long,
that my voice was good and my lungs were strong.
The old man stood still with a weary sigh,
St. Peter he asked simply 'Why'.
'How long have you been wed', St. Peter said,
'Thirty years' the old man replied.
Thirty years with that woman there.
It's no wonder why your head is bare.
Thirty years with her tongue so sharp
O Angel Gabriel give him a harp.
A jewelled harp with golden strings
A glistening robe and a pair of wings'.(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Mollie Costello
- Gender
- Female
- Informant
- John Galvin
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Knock, Co. Roscommon