Mary Ann Thompson of Bridge Cottage, Carndonagh, was a keen poet and political commentator. Here we have three of her rather caustic poetic observations on Donegal political life.
DONEGAL ELECTION
England our fair and fearless sister
Once kicked Lea out of Kidderminster
And Irish brogues are not too small
To kick Lea out of Donegal.
INISHOWEN WORKHOUSE ELECTION (1876)
Our staunch and true friend of the Protestant Church
In this contest for power is left in the lurch.
A red hot papist Guardian’s appointed instead
And thrust in right over our Candidate’s head.
Carn Orator (or The Fancy Mayor) (1877)
Come gather up boys while I spin you a yarn
About a brave lad call’d the Mayor of Carn.
A broth of a boy in the high civic chair
Catching smugglers and rogues in each market and fair.
He’s well up in Humphries and great in Levinge;
A loose point of law can right slyly unhinge.
Winks and calls the distiller an innocent babe
Then sniffs at the poteen for Barney McCabe.
Strikes fines on the fellows caught in a shebeen,
And lectures them well on the rights of the queen:
Sends vagrants right up to be cosy and snug
For a month napping stones in the Lifford stone jug.
At the Workhouse he’s great on the question of beef
And profound in his logic on outdoor relief.
In the bench he can see neither favour nor flaw
And holds by no rule but the rule of the law.
While a still hides in cave, or a tramp sleeps in barn
May this prince of good fellows reign Mayor of Carn