A Memory

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Deargaill, Pulgloss

Austin V. O'Malley

Jamesy Jimmy is gone to his reward

Words of praise and appreciation are unnecessary

Among those who knew him

Everyone has their own for this keen huntsman

One of nature’s gentlemen

The last of a village of O’Malley’s

Called Bun Thíairin

Compact, tidy, on one street,

Thatched houses

Tie-stones, corner stones, lintels

Carried from Clare Island

Hard working people

Skilled fishermen, seldom fooled

by vagaries of wind and weather

Self sufficient with their own hard won produce

Even their own spring well between cliff and sea

Exports:

A few cattle, pigs, kelp

Honest toil

People

Imports:

Flour, tea, sugar, paraffin oil

and on a priority level with oxygen itself,

Tobacco

Will the O’Malley’s ever return to reclaim

their lovely little corner in the sun

or, with the passing of James

Has the last water been drawn

From Tobar Na hAille?

In ascal Dé atá said go léir

AUSTIN V. O’MALLEY