Hi Margaret, Thanks for sharing that wonderful bit of ephemera. While I haven't found anything on that particular poem - on a check for the phrase "darling of Fame," it does appear to be a phrase that appeared in circa 1830s literature read around the world. Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margaret Malloy" <vdamore@frontiernet.net> To: <IRISH-IN-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 4:23 PM Subject: [UK-Irish] Irish Poetry-Killaloe Poem > Thank you, Jean, for all the poetry. > You've inspired me to add my own contribution. > > The following is a poem I found, hand written in a box of family > papers going back to the 1830s. I have no idea of who wrote it, > copied it or sent it (the back of the sheet is addressed to my great > great great grandfather, Matthew Guinane, Killaloe, Ballina, > Tipperary, Ireland) > > This is my title and transcription. Bits of the paper are missing or > the ink is smudged so anything in () is my best guess. > > Killaloe Poem > > As I was (a)musing one night in me Shame > > Of that beautiful Erin the darling of Fame > > Assisted me to write something ancient and true > > Of that royal and beautiful town Killaloe > > First came the Shannon most glorious to see > > Excelling all others in every degree > > Where steamboats and shipping > > Appear in full view > > And the Grand Canal flowing > > Through sweet Killaloe > > How on lovely Shannon of Erin the pride > > Where castles romantic and woods on each side > > Where Islands and forests ( ) in full view > > Shure the city of Dublin can't match Killaloe > > As for fishing and fowling and music so sweet > > And carriages rolling through every street > > Eternally blessed with the sweet mountain view > > As it flows like the ocean through sweet Killaloe > > S(uc)h ( ) St. Patrick how glorious to meet > > And if I was (analive) I would well explore > > Of the places around I would have said more > > So fill up a bumper and give it its due > > There is no place in the world can equal Killaloe > > At least two of Matthew's sons spent some time in the Gold Fields of > Ballarat, Victoria, Australia in the 1860s-1880s so I guess one of > them might have sent it, though the handwriting doesn't match the one > son whose handwriting I have elsewhere. > > Has anyone ever come across anything like this? > >