Song of a Kerry District Councillor 

It appears that Politics was as popular a subject of conversation over a hundred years ago as it is today. This anonymous composition written in the first person and partly in the vernacular is an amusing commentary on the integrity of the members of the council. The names used in the song are fictitious but it would be no secret as to who the composer was referring to. It was composed circa 1908 and signed Jackeen.

I 

The time now near is comin’ and things ‘ill soon be hummin,’

As in times before, they was.

An’ of course I’ll be selected, but as for bein’ elected,

I don’t know how much chance I has;

For they’ll be fierce excitement; “That’s always what a fight mint,”

As Pat Finnegan remarked to me.

“But then we’ll say what jaynus, like yours and mine will gain us,

For me an’ you are the min !” sez he.

II

And me: Oi says to Finnegan, “Be hell we must get in again,

For times is pretty hard just now.”

And there’s no use in saying, but the job is moighty payin’,

For the tips keep comin’ in somehow.

And twenty pounds er dayable widout any bit of trouble,

As Pat Finnegan remarked to me.

“be me everlasting britches, is more nice than patching ditches,

And, oi don’t loike poikin’ turf!” sez he.

III

But of late shure oi’ve been votin’ that some rumours, ‘round is floatin!

‘Bout the way the electors next will trate us.

Tis said that education, with the younger giniration,

Will meet us at the pollin’ booths an’ bate us.

“for they thinks we have no knowledge, since we never was to collidge,”

As Pat Finnegan remarked to me.

“But there’s where they’r missratin’ the knowledge that’s inate in

The loikes of you and oi!” sez he.

IV

We never got much schoolin’ for we didn’t want such foolin’

To waste our time we never could afford.

But our administration is a credit to the nation,

We have talent an’ we shows it at the Board.

 “There’s no damn good in study, if a man’s head is muddy.”

Pat Finnegan remarked to me.

“The district if you’d manige, widout any hurt or damage,

All oo want is common-sense.” Sez he.

V

So the times ‘ill soon be merry, wance agin in dear ould Kerry,

An’ the Kingdom will wake up an’ look alive.

For the min will all be speechin an’ the women will be screechin’.

Or else buzzin’ like the bees around a hive.

“But no Biddies or no Betties or no other Suffragettees,”

As Pat Finnegan remarked to me.

“Wid their fringes an’ their flouncin’, will be members of our council,

We’ll be min an’ nothin’ else.” Sez he.

VI

Me own affairs is laggin’ an’ me wife is always raggin’.

She drives me fairly daft, the jade!

Wid her talk about the childer, an’ the way the work has killed her,

Since I a District Councillor was made.

“But the Board must be attended, an’ our roights must be definded.”

As Pat Finnegan remarked to me.

“If you does not do your duty, you cannot share the booty,

An’ what’s worse, you’ll miss the booze.” Sez he.

VII

And oh! The times uproarious an’ the meetin’s grand and glorious,

I wouldn’t loike to lose them’ no, bedad!

An’ then the viniration, an the fervent admiration,

That from all min since the beginning we’ve had.

“Our names is writ in sthory for we’ve served our land with glory.”

As Pat Finnegan remarked to me.

“So keep up your me Haero. An’ we’ll land in the chair. Oh!

An oi’ll be ye’r V.C” sez he.

Jackeen