School: Dean Kelly Memorial (roll number 16639)
- Location:
- Athlone, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: D. Cahalene
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0748, Page 219
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- (continued from previous page)And charm e'en now hath this old church for me
Tho' rude and roofless and unheeded, still
Its grey old walls I ever long to see
Its memory has power my soul to thrill
For what a lesson of the bygone time
The dark yet glorious past do they afford
A tale of Faith heroic and Sublime
That never bowed beneath the tyrant's sword
When hunted were our priests by ruthless men
And drunk with martyrs' blood our dear old sod
Here came an outlawed Friar from moor or fen
To build this humble temple to his God
O blest disciple of Assisi's Saint
Long may thy name be honoured in our land
And never may thy memories grow faint
While Thine old temple by the flood shall stand
And thou O Time relentless as thou art
Touch not with blighting hand this dear old shrine
That it may wake in many another heart
Thoughts it has woke this twilight hour in mine
