MY OWN DRUMEELA SCHOOL I woke up at 6 this morning as a bright new day in dawning The sun is shining brightly and everything seems cool After dreaming all night long of my old Drumeela School I could clearly see Con Reilly who was always fun and tricky Also John Pat O'Brien and his red-haired brother Mickey I also saw our teachers, Master King and Ms. McCusker. As they stood there by the blackboard with cane and chalk and duster Some days were long and boring and at times we'd chat at will While some sat beside the window looking out at Annagh Hill We never heard of Julius Caesar, Napoleon or Mussolini But we all knew Frank the blacksmith and Mickey McAweney I remember Edmond Patterson who never missed a trick He lived near Donald Murray and the Dolans in Drumbrick There were nine in Mike McKeevers and nine in John Fitz's Who all loved playing football and also jumping ditches We had McGoverns, McGertys and Lynchs and a lot of McIntyres Also two Benny Reillys and four John Maguires Some of them came early and some were always late And the ones who had some money would always stop at Kate's >From Newtown came the Gorbys, Brian Kiernan and May McGovern There was also Kathleen Irwin and O'Rourkes from Killerin They always seemed relaxed and never seemed to hurry As they always came to school on the back of Reilly's lorry We never had computers not even two-wheeled scooter No radios, cars or tellies but we were always very happy In our brand new shiny "wellies" Times were tough back then but we were all well fed With lots of spuds and bacon and a pot beneath the bed I almost forgot to mention, As you can plainly see All seven members of my own family There was Peggy, Monica, Theresa and Me Then came Vera and Father Kevin And with sadness we say that Jim has gone to Heaven So now I'll say goodbye and hope to see you soon I'll be counting all the days from now until next June I'm going back to bed now, which I don't do as a rule And do some more reminiscing about my old Drumeela School -- Michael O'Rourke, 2007 "Leitrim Guardian" periodical