• Michael Mullins
  • Michael "The Bard" Mullin
  • "The Bard of Foremass"
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    Patrick Dan (PD) Mullin “The Bard”

    5th March 2022

    Michael The Bard’s son Patrick Dan Mullin, passed away suddenly in Dublin aged 92.

    Patrick Dan was the driving force behind the publication of Michael’s poems. PD showed huge pride and honour when speaking of his father’s work and his stories and tales were always wonderful to hear.

    With his passing brings the end of an incredible generation of “The Bards”.

    It was an honour to have known and worked alongside this inspirational man.

    Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

    In Memoriam

    We mourn the great departed:
    We mourn our chieftain gone:
    That Star hath set in Eirinn
    That long o’er Eirinn shone.

    The four sad winds of Eirinn
    Carry the wail afar,
    From the sad hearts in Eirinn
    To where our exiles are.

    God sent that Star to guide us
    On to His blest abode:
    While many a smooth road lured us
    From the rough, narrow road.

    God spared us long that Lighthouse
    Above the billows dark,
    When hidden rocks and tempests
    Threatened the struggling bark.

    His good and great achievement
    Have fashioned, high and broad
    A pyramid ascending
    From Eirinn up to God.

    No need for us to praise him
    To him earth’s praise was dross
    No need for us to mourn him:
    But, oh: we mourn our loss.

    A Star hath set in Eirinn:
    Still darkling on we grope:
    Lo! a new Star in heaven
    Filling our hearts with hope.

    MICHAEL MULLIN, ‘The Bard of Foremass’,
    Foremass Lower, Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone.

    Verse 4 –  bark or barque – a ship
    Verse 6 –   dross – refuse – of no value