Bill Brien bought and sold hens and eggs and ducks and chickens
Turkeys, guinea fowl and geese and rabbits too
And in his van he drove around Duhallow
And with him went his faithful kerry blue.
One of the last of an old breed of dealers
A stocky fellow with a husky voice
You ask him for ten bob for skin of fox or badger
And Bill was sure to beat you down in price.
He called to houses on the Cork and Kerry border
In Cullen and Rathmore and Knocknagree
And when the deal was done and he’d sold or purchased
He never would refuse the cake and tea.
He lived in Pound Hill in the Town of Millstreet
And at the local markets a familiar face
And there was much to like about the fellow
Well known and liked around his own homeplace.
So many believe in a life hereafter
And that the soul forever will live on
And if this be so Bill Brien the old style dealer
Up to dealers paradise has gone.
I am assuming that this is the same Bill Brien who played accordeon locally in a few bands and also taught me some tunes in his house on Pound Hill
Yes, Jerry it is the very same William (Bill) Brien about whom poet Francis Duggan has written so very well. Bill was also the accordeon player with the famous “Millstreet Rovers” Band. Jerry Kavanagh, Denis O’Keeffe (Rathmore), John “Sing” O’Sullivan, Patrick Looney and John Radley (my father) were the other members of that mighty popular Band.