Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-07-27
THE soUILTHAUN OF sK1BBEREEN


IA SUGGESTION FOR BoUCICAULT
OF all the noble patriots that avenge poor Ire
lands wrong,
Whose fame has been the frequent theme OF
history and song,
There was never either rapparee, or gorsoon, OF
Like Phelim Mike O'Doolan, the squilthaun Of
Skibbereen.
When the peasantry assembled at a wedding
With his bottle and his blackthorn he was Ger
tain to be there.
In all the fights and frolics Of the country he'd
engage;
But description is superfiuous- you've seen
him on the stage.
All that was mere diversion just his leisure to
When business wasn't pressing, he'd enjoy HIM
self in style;
But the object of his mission, into which he
threw his soul,
Was to liberate his country from the saxon's
base control
When the agent or the bailiff on his fiendish er.
rand went.
To wrong a noble peasantry by base demands
of rent,
would lie in wait,
And neatly put a bullet through his despicable
pate.
the country round;
found,
And said, when next the Fenians took to wear.
ing of the green,
The man to lead them on was the Squilthaun
of Skibbereen.
"Go tell Lord Enniscorthy," the blooming girl
"That I. Kathleen McMulligan, would soorn to
be his bride;
'Tis myself tomorrow mOrnin', will be prouder
whin wed me darlin' Phelim, the squilthaun
of Skibbereen."
With clouded brow the agent left the widow s
He wasn't gone three minutes before the neigh
bOrs heard a shot.
30 Phelim, dear. avick machree, you're here at
laSt-SO glad.'
And the squilthaun said, in cheerful tone, "rvc
tumbled him, bedad!"
"Oho!" quoth Shawn McGimerty, who Law
concealed close by,
"'Tis you have won fair Katy's loye-nO use
for me to try.
But I'll have bloody vengeance for her inso-
Sure IN inform an have ye hanged-I will, me
bold Squilthaun'
A British regiment of foot with cannon and
dragOOns;
Six Orange lodges with their bands advancing
A large constabulary force-the minions of the
Crown
Are marching in converging lines to hunt the
Squilthaun down.
He heard the bugle and the drum-he saw the
Sure: Katy dear, they're coming here-it's
"And fwhen We go, who'll be here poor Katy
Och, meiia murther arrasthrew." or words to
that effect.
"Och, Phelim, take me wild yees, dear, whatev-
er may betide;
Sure am not, in life or death, your own, your
faithful bride?"
He caught her in his brawny arms-with hasty
steps he fled
To where the devious mountain path to life
and safety led.
What tall and frowning battlement, appearing
on the right,
Looms up in grim portentousness in the uncer-
tain light?
Tis Enniscorthy Castle, where that naughty
noble dwells,
And nearer on the evening breeze the martial
music swells.
80 Phelm," cries the faintng girl, 1--WE must
not go in there;
He's got sien1board hoard up. dye mind, wild Tres
"Och. battershin!" bold Pheim cries, and rap
idly unlOcks
A private postern-door, concealed by shrubbery
and rocks.
She woke up from her swoOn within gor-
geous hall she lay;
" OchOne, OchOne! where am l now?" she
shrieked in wild dismay;
An is this me? an where is he? o, why was
Och wirrasthrew! Och phillilew! Phelim, me
Squilthaun!"
Who enters the apartment now with proud and
naughty tread?
He hasn't Phelims stubbly beard, nor Phelm's
ruby head.
His locks are as the ravens wing-and yet those
eyes, that nose!
But where on earth would Phelim get a suit of
broadcloth clothes?
Come to me arms. me darlin' grill" "An' who
are you, at all?"
~ am Lord Enniscorthy, in me own ancestral
No longer Phclim the Squilthaun-'twas but
nate disguised
To join in the diversions av the colleens an the
byes.
81 came here from the Continent q year or two
ago,
An after me Partisan life found it mighty
So took to shooting baiifs-rd grudge at
them, dye see,
For the way the divils robbed me whin lived
an absentee.
Just then the soldiers entered to report II fruit
less chase;
Near by. they said. they'd lost his track, and
found no further trace;
So in hilarious revelry they passed the hours
till morn,
And his Lordship hoped at parting they might
capture the Squithaun.
Tabeau! My Lord and Katy to the footlights
now advance,
In the rear the happy tenantry engaging in
dance:
"And ever shall bless the day | met my own
Kathlecn!"
Father Rooney gives his blessing curtain falls
upon the scene.
Boston Traveller.