Stories / Poems
'Two Ballynahaye Farmers' by Robert Barclay (Smiley Bob), Legaroe
Two Ballynahaye Famers
There is two decent farmers
In Ballynahaye doth dwell
Willie Gilmour and Andy Kerr,
I'm sure you know them well.
It was this very season
This couple left it aff,
That they would plough this spring together
And make the neighbours laugh.
Says Willie unto Andy
I think we'll start in time
I'll expect you every morning
Just one minute after nine.
For to get the work done early
I've always found it best
To plough it deep and plough it rough
And the frost wiII do the rest.
Says Andy unto Willie
I think there is no need
To get in such a hurry.
We'll give the horses time to feed
An extra hour in the morning.
They will do better then
I think that we'll be time enough
If we' re in the field at ten.
Says Willie unto Andy
We'd never get done in time
But I'll divide that hour with you
And make it half past nine.
They both agreed to this
And the bargain then was made.
But James Lockhart declared
He could dig it with the spade
The morning that they started
It was two hours before daylight.
They hooked the chains with trembling hands
And their faces very white.
The horses they were very rough
And tried to run away.
And the shouting waked the Kelly's
In the cabin on the bray.
Peter, he got up, it did not take him very long
He still could hear the shouting
But he did not know what was wrong.
He called to Pat and Owney,
But he didn’t speak to fast
McGaughin is very tough
But he's away at last.
Young Owen McCann was only home
And just got into bed
When a noise came down the chimney
That would 'waken up the dead.
They all got up to run
But they hadn’t run too far,
When they began to think
It was only Willie Gilmour and Andy Kerr.
Andy Young, he heard
One great unearthly yell
He called unto his mother
There's someone killing Bell
Ah no! his mother says
It's out across the bogs
It's only Tommy Lockhart
And he's chasing men and dogs
They heard the shouts on eightenfore
And it filled their hearts with fear
Says Mick O’Neill, I think we’ll leave
The Russians must be here.
Don’t get alarmed says Hamill
Just keep off the road,
It's only the burnhouse lorry
And it's picking up it's load.
Fred Lewis was out on the hill
And he heard an awful roar and shout.
He called unto the Mrs
Come on! . Come quickly out!
It was there they stood and listened
Their faces filled with gloom
I doubt says Fred we're finished
Armygidden war's begun.
But the horses they are settled down
And. ploughing rightly now.
Willie drives, Andy leads
And Albert steers the plough.
It's Albert's style of ploughing
To cut it two by four
And Gillespie's ass could pull it
And have plenty time to roar.