Francis Duggan - Peter Carroll

He was only a small sized man at a guess five foot four
Nine stone perhaps of slender build if that then not much more
And I still have the memories from sunny Summer's day
Of watching Peter Carroll as he built a rick of hay.

He more than earnt what he was paid well worthy of his hire
And he piked for hours in the hot sun and never seemed to tire
He worked with fellows half his age and more than held his own
One of Duhallow's great workmen and better I've not known.

He rated with Inchaleigh's best towards west of Millstreet Town
Johnny Hickey and Jack Kelleher and Daniel and Jackie Brown
And all were renowned working men in mountain country side
They gave their best and done good job and in their work took pride.

The greatest workman pound for pound from road by Clara hill
And had Peter been a great athlete he'd be remembered still
And though names of men who laboured hard not on memorial wall
The little man from Inchaleigh is one I can recall.

One of Duhallow's great workmen and better I've not known
He worked with fellows half his age and more than held his own
And I still have the memories from sunny Summer's day
Of watching Peter Carroll as he built a rick of hay.

Francis Duggan

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/peter-carroll/