A Skellig List

This Skellig list was collected by Liam Riordan, a pupil at Gleann na gCoileach National School, near Caragh Lake from a S, McBrohan, as part of the National Schools Folklore Collection 1937-1939.

Source: CBÉ: 472:78-82

I

The wheel revolves, old names are changed

And some poor lads and lassies blamed

For courage great and the great step taken

And souls united new life to awaken

II

But others are whose souls are dead

Whose life is like a sheet lead

Whose hearts are cold, whose minds are dull

Whose very life is like the gull

III

They tried and failed in every walk

Their only hope is empty talk

They’ve left Shrove a winter waste

To Skelligs now they’ll have to haste

IV

Some thought that ‘Johnny Crón’ would see

His way to wend to ‘Counovree’

But ‘Molly D’ was without money

So now he’s more interested in honey

V

The few mean pints that ‘Paddy’ stood

To gain the heart of ‘Sheila the wood’

Will long remain a real heart-breaker

And foil his path to ‘Cáit the raker’

VI

Poor ‘Máire D’ is trudging West

To coax ‘poor R’ – ‘the ape’ – the best

But nothing doing for ‘rinós’ few

And ‘poor R’s’ father must say, adieu

VII

The half-pint bought by ‘fúird’ so lately

Will not lure ‘the fox’ the miser stately

And ‘Euge’ the man who walked so proudly

Is now ‘a dud’ though he talks so proudly

VIII

The ‘goat’ is now in a terrible state

Because he thought at night so late

That all the world was fast asleep

To wend his way from ‘Pats o’ the sheep’

IX

First attempts are not so bad

But tries and tries may stem ‘the had’

‘By gum’ I can see no reason

Why I’m rejected every season

X

Ah ‘poor Mick’ ‘the Hens’ are awful

A marriage surely should be lawful

If ‘Darby’ would only take your word

You surely would be giving the ‘bird’

XI

Driving cows so late at night

Will not allure ‘poor Billy’s sight’

Other colleens are on the way

Whose hopes are great for ‘meadows of hay’
XII

“I say, friend”, will no longer take

To fool the lassie whose sweet cake

With whiskey bought from ‘J.D.’s house’

To chance the legacy from ‘Mickey the Mouse’

XIII

‘Counts’ and ‘Lords’ are plenty now

But ‘Western lassies’ all know, how
To size them up (they) their worth to state

So pride and pomp and cash are late

IXV

Of course ‘poor Cáit’ had no earthly chance

To meet ‘poor Jim’ at ‘Hanifan’s dance’

The secret leaked, ‘old dad’ had fear

That something would happen “Oh Dear, Oh Dear”

XV

Friendships made at poor ‘Tadhg’s sticks’

Are now destroyed by ‘Dandrum’s’ tricks

“I’ve cows, I’ve crops, I’ve a lassie pure”

Why travel to Tullig to ‘Johnny’ allure

XVI

‘Father George’ need pay not visit

To ‘Coomcloghane’ poor Siobhán ‘na skillet’

For she’s settled up for once and all

To cross the Lake to ‘cuck na ball’

XVII

Twenty pounds and the devil a more

Won’t satisfy the wants of ‘Pats of Tulig More’

The ‘Mule’ is ‘Mick’s!’ The rae is ‘Paddy’s!’

Take the rest if it suits ‘your laddie’

XVIII

‘Frankly’ boy you’re playing with fire

If you think you’ll fool the ‘life wire’

Letters won’t do and threats are wasted

And notices are only your time wasted

XIX

“Oh what a boy, and oh what a cad”

Is ‘Seán na scuab’ and his little one lad

Do you think, ‘sly Seán’, that the offer made

Is enough to satisfy ‘Molly the maid’

XX

Poor ‘Jerer Roche’ is now demented

Because ‘Paddy’ lately (had) has assented

To take the offer poor ‘Peggy’ made

To stock the farm and till the glade

XX1

What will ‘Eyre’ do at all, at all

Because the ‘hollies’ can no longer call

The blushing smiling coaxing maid

Whose new abode will foil a raid
XXII

Oh ‘Bill the boost’ you were an ass

To try to coax the ‘wee poor lass’

Well you knew there was no hope

To fool poor ‘parson’ with your dope

XXIII

Ah God help us what a flock

Must brave the elements and face ‘the rock’

Poor ‘Mícheál’ will surely have a job

To cater kindly for such a mob

XXIV

They’ve tried, they’ve failed the shelf must hold

For another year unless too old

This motley clan of apes and asses.

Óinseachs, swanks that go as lassies