The Curse of Doneraile
Formerly these two poems were widely known in the South of Ireland. They were written by a schoolmaster from Co. Galway called Pat O'Kelly. That he had a high opinion of himself can be gathered from the following couplet, which concludes one of his poems :
" It would take a Byron and a Scott, I tell you, Combined in one to make a Pat O'Kelly"
The Curse of Doneraile.
My Dublin watch, my chain and seal, Pilfered at once in Doneraile
May fire and brimstone never fail, To fall in showers on Doneraile.
As lightening flashes across the vale, So down to hell with Doneraile
The fate of Pompey at Pharsale, Be that the curse of Doneraile.
May Beef or Mutton, Lamb or Veal, Be never found in Doneraile.
But Garlic Soup and Scurvy Kale, Be still the food of Doneraile.
May Heaven a chosen curse entail, On rigid rotten Doneraile.
May Sun and Moon forever fail, To beam their lights on Doneraile
May every pestilential gale, Blast that cursed spot called Doneraile.
May not a Cuckoo, Thrush or Quail, Be ever heard in Doneraile.
May Patriots, Kings and commonweal, Despise and harrass Doneraile.
May every Post, Gazette and Mail, Sad tidings bring to Doneraile.
May loudest thunders ring a Peal, To blind and deafen Doneraile.
May vengeance fall at head and tail, From north to south at Doneraile.
May profit light and tardy sale, Still damp the trade of Doneraile.
May fame resound a dismal tale, Whenever she lights at Doneraile.
May Egypt's plagues at once prevail, To thin the knaves of Doneraile.
May frost and snow and sleet and hail, Benumb each joint in Doneraile.
May wolves and bloodhounds trace and trail, The cursed crew of Doneraile.
May Oscar with his fiery flail, To Atoms thresh all Doneraile.
May every mischief fresh and stale, Abide henceforth in Doneraile.
May all from Belfast to Kinsale, Scoff, Curse and Damn you, Doneraile.
May neither flour nor oatenmeal, Be found or known in Doneraile.
May want and woe each joy curtail, That ever was known in Doneraile.
May no one coffin want a nail, That wraps a rogue in Doneraile.
May all the thieves that rob and steal, The gallows meet in Doneraile.
May all the sons of Granuaile, Blush at the thieves of Doneraile.
May mischief big as Norway whale, Overwhelm the knaves of Doneraile.
May curses wholesale and retail, Pour with full force on Doneraile.
May every transport wont to sail, A convict bring from Doneraile.
May every churn and milking pail, Fall dry to stones in Doneraile.
May cold and hunger still congeal, The stagnant blood of Doneraile.
May every hour new woes reveal, That Hell reserves for Doneraile.
May every chosen ill prevail, Over all the imps of Doneraile.
May no one wish or prayer avail, To soothe the woes of Doneraile.
May the Inquisition straight impale, The Rapparees of Doneraile.
May curse of Sodom now prevail, And sink to ashes Doneraile.
May Charon's boat triumphant sail, Completely manned from Doneraile.
Oh! may my couplets never fail, To find new curse in Doneraile,
And may grim Pluto's inner jail, Forever groan with Doneraile.
The Palinode or The Recantation
(Most Humbly dedicated to Lady Doneraile) How vastly pleasing is my tale, I found my watch in Doneraile. My Dublin watch, my chain and seal, Were all restored at Doneraile.
May fire and brimstone ever fail, To hurt or injure Doneraile.
May neither friend nor foe assail, The generous town of Doneraile.
May lightning never singe the vale, That leads to darling Doneraile.
May Pompey's fate at old Pharsale, be still reversed at Doneraile.
May beef and mutton, lamb and veal, Plenty create at Doneraile.
May garlic soup or scurvy kale, No palate spoil in Doneraile.
May neither frog nor creeping snail, Subtract the crops of Doneraile.
May heaven each chosen bliss entail, On honest friendly Doneraile.
May 'Sol' or 'Luna' never fail, To shine and blaze at Doneraile.
May every soft ambrosial gale, Waft every bliss to Doneraile.
May every cuckoo, thrush and quail, A concert form at Doneraile.
May every Post, Gazette and Mail, Glad tidings bring to Doneraile.
May no harsh thunder ring a peal, To incommode sweet Doneraile.
May profit high and speedy sale, Enlarge the trade of Doneraile.
May fame resound a pleasing tale, Of every joy at Doneraile.
May Egypt's plagues forever fail, To hurt or injure Doneraile.
May frost or snow or sleet or hail, No mischief do at Doneraile.
May Oscar with his fiery flail, Thresh all the foes of Doneraile.
May all from Belfast to Kinsale, Be half as good as Doneraile.
May choicest flour and oatenmeal, Be still to spare at Doneraile.
May want or woe no joy curtail, That's always known at Doneraile.
No coffin that grim death may nail, Can wrap a rogue in Doneraile.
There are no thieves to rob or steal, Within two leagues of Doneraile.
Sure all the sons of Granuaile, May well be proud of Doneraile.
May no dark monster, shark or whale, Annoy or torture Doneraile.
May no disaster ever assail, The bliss and peace of Doneraile.
May every transport wont to sail, Increase the wealth of Doneraile.
May every churn and milking pail, Overflow with cream at Doneraile.
May cold and hunger never congeal, The precious blood of Doneraile.
May every hour new joys reveal, To crown the bliss of Doneraile.
May every sweet that can regale, New odours waft to Doneraile.
May no corroding ill prevail, To damp the joys of Doneraile.
May every wish and prayer avail, To crown the peace of Doneraile.
May the inquisition never impale, Or hurt a limb of Doneraile.
May Sodom's curses ne'er prevail, To sink and torture Doneraile.
May Charon's boat forever sail, Without a man from Doneraile.
May gallows, gibbet, stocks and jail, Appear a wreck at Doneraile.
And may its Lady never fail, To find new joys in Doneraile.