A SATIRE.
GALLAGHER'S.
(A Ballad of the War.)
ATTEND all ye who list to hear ould Ireland's trumpet blow I I sing a Free State feat of arms against the wily foe.
'Twas in the middle av the night we stharted for the wars In lorries, Crossleys, motors, and McGinty's jauntin' kyars. The girls kern out to wish us luck ; we enthertained no fears : We had nine Major-Ginerals an' fourteen Brigadiers ! Likewise of Colonel-Commandants we musthered just a score, Wid Majors, Captains, Adjutants, an' Subalterns galore. An' av full privates we had wan—he danger wud not shun—. Brave Martin Daniel O'Bedad who sarved the Lewis gun.
An' first we shelled the workhouse, but our missiles did not hit, An' all the paupers kern outside, enthreatin' us to quit. They said they were good Threaty men, as we cud plainly see ; So then we bombed the lock-up, an' set all the prisoners free. Two groceries an' the Orange Hall in smithereens we smashed, An' then on Gallagher's Hotel wid fiery valour dashed. But this the inimy held in force, an' now begun the fun : " Bould O'Bedad," our Leader cried, "bring up the Lewis gun I " Two mortial days we swept the sthreets, the air wid howls- was filled ; The bullets rained on Gallagher's, but divil a wan was killed At lenth says Private O'Bedad, "This thing will niver do— We must desthroy the faitures av that most onholy crew." That night the Lewis gun he tuk to Gallagher's baek dure- It jammed an' burst, an' blew him up, but made our triumph sure !
Thus was our only private lost, though he the victory won, Bould Martin Daniel O'Bedad who sarved the Lewis gun.
J. C. S.
Previous page
