(Cardinal Logue)

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