The Famed Writers Of Millstreet

The famed writers of Millstreet the centuries they do span
Since the days of the Young Irelander Edward Walsh a renowned bardic man
He was from Derragh it is said his bones in Cork City lay
Though Millstreet to him did seem home since he lived there for many a day.

Jer Cronin was from Millstreet and quite a name for himself he made
For the Kerryman papers he penned the Millstreet news for many a decade
To be followed by Maurice Murray O Callaghan with his Millstreet Items in the Corkman he penned the Millstreet notes and views
Long before Denis Reardon edited the Clara News.

The last great bard of Mushera John Twomey was his name
In the fifties and the sixties he enjoyed his spell of fame
His delightful poems and ballads read and recited today
Surely a marvellous wordsmith with words he had a way.

Bernard O Donoghue a living poetic legend it has come as no surprise
The news that for his poetry he has won the Whitbread prize
As a talented man of letters he is renowned World wide
And in Cullen, Millstreet and Duhallow his achievements looked upon with pride.

Jack Lane of Aubane the editor and publisher to the writers task is true
For his promotion of Duhallow and Sliabh Luachra literary identities only credit he is due
As a historian and a literary critic widespread respect he has won
And he deserves to be applauded for a job very well done.

Mary Gaffney of the Killarney Road a famed writer in ‘Ireland’s Eye’
Irish migrants all around the World her short stories do enjoy
As a loved and polished writer she is held in high esteem
And she has reached the heights in literature of which some do only dream.

Jerry Kelleher who was raised in Claraghatlea North about a mile from Millstreet Town
With his books ‘Irish Travels In America’ he has carved his own renown
A young man of considerable talent he is at his writing prime
And he is gaining a reputation as a foremost writer of our time.

Karen O Connor of the Station Road such a talented young poet
Even the great Brendan Kenneally of her work has taken note
Her book of poems ‘Fingerprints On Canvas’ has set her on the road to fame
Surely one for the future as another literary household name.

Claraghatlea’s Mary O Sullivan Becker based in the U S A
She is a living literary legend of her one can say
And John Tarrant  as a journalist for the Corkman  is well known
His stature as a writer of late has grown and grown

From Edward Walsh to Jack Mage Horan right up to the present day
For the famed writers of Millstreet let us hear the hip hooray
Known for it’s many great sports people Millstreet now has also become known
For the many famous writers it can lay claim to as it’s own.

by Francis Duggan