Ballydaly’s Last Blacksmith Farrier

When Brendan Murphy was in his physical prime of time one must go back a span
Ballydaly’s last blacksmith farrier he was quite a man
He shod his last working horse in his forge in his brother Eddy’s backyard
For his livelihood he is one who did work quite hard

Tall and lean and dark haired and physically quite strong
Ballydaly’s last blacksmith farrier to a rare breed belong
The hooves of the last working horse, mule, jennet and donkey he did pare
Since the demise of the last working equines blacksmith farriers have become rare

With Denis ‘The Rover’ Riordan the blacksmith farrier of Millstreet’s West End he learned his trade
From the hard work of blacksmith and farrier Brendan earned every pound he was paid
A quiet achiever and quiet in his way
Quiet waters run deep as the wise one does say

The nineteen sixties brought change to Ireland as it did Worldwide
And working animals became rare in the countryside
With the introduction of bigger and modern machinery blacksmith farriers became an endangered breed
And for engine mechanics there became a far greater need

In his working life he worked hard for his every pay
Ballydaly’s last blacksmith farrier is in honorable retirement today
As a top class tradesman a name for himself he made
With Denis ‘The Rover’ Riordan the renowned Millstreet blacksmith farrier he learned his trade.

“Ballydaly’s Last Blacksmith Farrier” is by Francis Duggan
http://francisrhymer.blogspot.ie/2016/01/ballydalys-last-blacksmith-farrier.html