Where The Boro Waters Flow
When I was researching my second book I came across a poem called “Where the Boro Waters Flow”. I knew instantly after reading it that it had made the cut for inclusion. I also knew instantly that I had at last found the title for the book. The poem was written by Laurence Gahan who lived in Ballinocrish and the Coolbawn area of Rathnure he went to work in Dublin and died in 1901 at 22 years of age. In his poem he yearned for Ireland freedom and that our native language would be saved. I wrote the following poem as a reply to his approximately 120 years later. I then went to Glasnevin cemetery Dublin to visit his Grave and bring my little gift from where the Boro waters flow.
As I sit here in Glasnevin
Beside your final resting place,
I can almost hear your voice
And see your smiling face.
A visitor from Wexford
Where you left so long ago
’Neath the shadow of the Blackstairs
Where the Boro waters flow.
Lately I took a wander
Through Coolbawn to Ballinacrish
I walked upon your footprints
And saw places you did fish.
I picked a granite rock
From where the river was low –
A gift to place upon your grave –
From where the Boro waters flow.
Times have changed a lot
Since 120 years ago –
The country rebelled again
And drove out the ancient foe,
But the civil war that followed
Reaped more than it did sow;
And stripped us of the mansions
Where the Boro waters flow.
You were concerned about our language
And if it would survive;
You’ll be glad to know
That it’s very much alive:
Our President speaks the Irish
As they did fadó fadó –
I’m going to send him a copy of
‘Where the Boro Waters Flow’.
​
It’s time I must be going,
For I must be on my way,
But I have a funny feeling
We’ll meet again some day.
Please God, he will allow me
Thirty years or so,
And together we’ll walk the mossy banks
Where the Boro waters flow.
To be a man of my word I posted a copy of the book to President Michael D Higgins and although I never thought for a moment that he would attend the book launch I put in an Invitation and got the following reply.
.png)