The Mountain of Sliabh Beagh

The curling smoke from a “fum Turf” fire, it stains the sky of blue,
Where a mountain man cuts one turf deep on the face of Altnacanoo,
Over “Carraig Glass” the sweet skylark sings out a merry song,
While Will-o-the wisp, curls over the heath-the dragonfly is gone.
A harrier hovers over Keenan’s hill while away across the bog,
The wild red grouse calls out “go back”, over Eshclougfin there’s fog.
Rom “Leac an Taggart” go “Poll na Scal”  the golden plover flies,
Round “Loch na Heeragh” the wild duck sweep and the small trout gently rise,
Over dark Glenvan the curlews call; to the north a purple haze,
Near Johnny’s well by the dark brown stream, the sheep and cattle graze,
Eishbrack serene, that holds the cross where the priest was shot by yeos,
Rom Toneyday to Pepper’s hollow the cuckoo’s voice echoes,
While fast across the heather tops the darting swift propels.

The wild hare hops across the moor, the beagle cries behind,
Eishmore looms high above it all, bedecked with spruce and pine,
On a moss-clad swamp behind the lake, a moorhen shy is wadin’,
While a bumblebee drones through the air with heather honey laden.
These sights I see, these sounds I hear on the Mountain of Sliabh Beagh.
It’s evening late and a gentle breeze across Lough Bhraden blows,
While homeward bound to distant nests fly flock of noisy crows,
The cuckoo’s song is silent now-the hen harrier has gone to bed,
The grouse calls out a last “go back”, the beagle cry is dead.
A bats appear like ugly specks upon a golden sky.
A distant bark from a cranky dog, a woodcock whistles by.
And hare sneaks back to a quiet den, the curlew’s call subsides,
And all return to mother earth, all to different hides,
I stand and gaze on this grand domain with awe and deep concern;
The heather bell, bogcotton white, sundew, and trembling fern,
The smallest midge, the red moneog, the hue across the land;
My thanks to him for a chance to see the splendour of his hand.
These gems of nature, the simple things and I only hope and pray,
That these sights and sounds man will preserve on the Mountain of Sliabh Beagh.