ACHILL SOUND BRIDGE – DAVITT’S BRIDGE (1886)

You Irish heroes throughout this nation,
To my oration pray listen on,
For I’m intended to sing the praises
Of a few verses in a simple song.

Brave Michael Davitt and his noble lady
Came back to Achill by the seaside,
To view the state of our Achill people,
Who were surrounded by the swelling tide.

He, alas, told them before he left them
That a bridge at Achill Sound there would surely be,
As now it’s built in strength and grandeur,
And his name in ages for the world to see.

This splendid building was greatly wanted,
For the Achill people, they suffered sore,
They could not cross over until they were boated,
But the bridge will last until time’s no more.

No tide nor storm can do it harm,
Its strong foundation can’t be knocked down,
And in the centre you will find a drawbridge,
To let the ships that’s sailing pass up and down.

There was a bridge lately built in Youghal,
And a splendid one too, that in Athlone;
Another bridge between New Ross and Wexford,
And I’m sure its equal cannot be found.

Now all those bridges I did cross over,
And view them well as I went all ‘round;
They can’t be compared to the bridge in Achill,
I’m sure its equal cannot be found.

God bless our clergy, brave Fr. O’Connor,
His name will be recorded for evermore;
He did his whole endeavour to complete this building,
The best priest stood in Achill for years before.

So brave Fr. O’Connor with Michael Davitt,
Be sure to have it and not to fail,
So before it’s long he’ll sing a Home Rule song,
For the noble rights of old Grainne Uaile.

Author Unknown