Father O'Flynn
Father O'Flynn
Original Text
The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves: Countryside Songs, Songs and Ballads (Dublin: Maunsel, 1908): 3-5. del G735 A155 1918 v. 2 Fisher Rare Book Library
1Of priests we can offer a charmin' variety,
3Still, I'd advance you, widout impropriety,
5Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,
7 Powerfullest preacher, and
10Don't talk of your Provost and Fellows of Trinity,
11Famous for ever at Greek and Latinity,
12Dad and the divels and all at Divinity,
13 Father O'Flynn 'd make hares of them all.
14Come, I vinture to give you my word,
15Never the likes of his logic was heard,
16 Down from Mythology
19Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,
20Slainté and slainté, and slainté agin;
21 Powerfullest preacher, and
22 Tinderest teacher, and
23 Kindliest creature in ould Donegal.
25All the ould sinners are wishful to pray wid you,
26All the young childer are wild for to play wid you,
27 You've such a way wid you, Father avick!
28Still, for all you've so gentle a soul,
29Gad, you've your flock in the grandest conthroul;
30 Checking the crazy ones,
32 Liftin' the lazy ones on wid the stick.
33Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,
34Slainté, and slainté, and slainté agin;
35 Powerfullest preacher, and
36 Tinderest teacher, and
37 Kindliest creature in ould Donegal.
38And though quite avoidin' all foolish frivolity,
39Still at all seasons of innocent jollity,
40Where was the play-boy could claim an equality
41 At comicality Father, wid you?
42Once the Bishop looked grave at your jest,
43Till this remark set him off wid the rest:
45 All to the laity?
46 Cannot the clargy be Irishmen too?"
47Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,
48Slainté, and slainté, and slainté agin;
49 Powerfullest preacher, and
50 Tinderest teacher, and
51 Kindliest creature in ould Donegal.
Notes
2] larnin’: learning. Back to Line
4] Father Michael Walsh (d. 1866), parish priest at Sneem, County Kerry, until his death. For his music, see George Petries, Complete Collection of Irish Music, ed. Charles Villiers Stanford (1903). Back to Line
6] Gaelic toast for “good health!” Back to Line
8] Tinderest: tenderest. Back to Line
9] ould: old. Donegal: county in Eire. Back to Line
17] Thayology: theology. Back to Line
18] Conchology: the study of shells and shell-fish. Back to Line
24] wid: with. Back to Line
31] onaisy: uneasy. Back to Line
44] lave: leave. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004