This Place
In bygone days of yore, I used to love this place
Men of Ulster side by side, led and drawn by God’s Grace
Summertime brought cause for great colourful celebration
As we sought to preserve our faith, and our fledgling nation
Then 69 saw riots, in an effort to besiege
And from there came bomb and bullet pull us to our knees
But we’d reserve the right for our nation to defend
So our children from such attack would not then have to contend
Shook to the core still, from when the times were wild
Tired & bitter, but resolute that I want better for my child
The good, the bad, the ugly all must be reconciled
I wish that they would disappear, the weary lines upon my face
In this time, and in this place
'Neath the shroud of the foggy dew I used love this place
To swing the ash or kick a ball and then shake off the chase
The Ardscoil we would frequent for the Ceili dance
Where most would be more focused on finding some romance
But our cultural expression was sought to be repressed
Yet with those who’d fight our corner we were greatly blessed
Park swings tied up on Sunday’s and the vote denied us all
We stood up and were counted to answer freedom’s call
Shook to the core still, from when the times were wild
Tired & bitter, but resolute that I want better for my child
The good, the bad, the ugly all must be reconciled
I wish that they would disappear, the weary lines upon my face
In this time, and in this place
Bloody Sundays, Bloody Fridays, the week was painted red
We may often sit and wonder what might have been instead Families torn apart and divisions ran true and deep
A legacy that steals any hope of quiet sleep
A time when everything for everyone was there to lose
Fates to be determined by the job or faith you choose
In our darkest moments we could see no reason or no rhyme
From the nightmare we must wake, there must come a better time
Shook to the core still, from when the times were wild
Tired & bitter, but resolute that I want better for my child
The good, the bad, the ugly all must be reconciled
I wish that they would disappear, the weary lines upon my face
In this time, and in this place
With arms laid down the jail doors opened, a bitter pill for some
But what rankles now will disappear as time whence we are from The olive branches touch for which there is no disgrace
As all now take some stock and offer up some space
We must cherish those we’ve lost but extinguish the hate alone
For nothing can be carried that’s etched in heavy stone
To reach for the sky we must together shed the load
So future generations get the least that they are owed
We look to the future, from when the times were wild
For we both want what’s better, each for our own child
The good, the bad, the ugly will now be reconciled
A new course now is what we must, all together chase
In this time, and in this place
Regard for Cú Chulainn
Two red hands grab the rope and pull from either side
For possession of Cú Chulainn is a matter of great pride
Thumbs in or out no matter both hold a steadfast grip
None likely to release the rope, or relent to any slip
Just as a young Setanta drove a sliotar at the hound
Later Cú Chulainn drove the Queen of Connacht’s army to the ground
Modern Ulaid often sees him dying on his feet
But as with every tallest mountain there’s a valley just as deep
All across the city Cú Chulainn has been seen
Not least where he’s stooped proudly facing north over High Green
But a hundred yards away is also his arena
As he has shone a light down over Glenalina
The image will prevail be the sky blue or grey
Just as he once stood down on Boundary Way
At the waking of the day, right from early dawn
The warrior makes his presence, perched over Glenbawn
Also front and centre as a beacon there to rule
He stands flanked and centred, elevated in Rathcoole
The day fades to night leaving only that seen for the moon
As Cú Chulainn rests with comrades on the wall in Lenadoon
While high and low both claim him, none can have him solely for their own It’s in mutual regard for Cú Chulainn that seeds of peace are sown
And not to doubt where to the raven has now flown
For Cú Chulainn could emerge on the hammer or the bone
