Francis Duggan

Only the best horse, colt, gelding, mare or filly ever wins the Cox Plate
And only the winner they will celebrate
First place by a nose is as good as a mile
The connections of the winner and the winning punters can laugh, cheer and smile... more »

Only the brave one can smile though not winning only the brave are gracious in defeat
Only the brave one though seen as successful never does show any sign of conceit
If for some reason from the Queen you do not accept a knighthood that does not prove lack of grace on your part
That only proves that you are a good person that you are one who does follow your heart... more »

When most of those known to be noble say enough is enough
Only the bravest hang in there when the going gets tough
And though all hope of better things from their lives seem gone
To despair they do not surrender they keep on keeping on... more »

Have you ever felt the World is against you that the gods are not on your side
And only the fear of death keeps you from ending your life in suicide
There are millions if not billions of people in Countries and towns and cities Worldwide
Who everyday do feel suicidal when their dreams of success are destroyed... more »

His face looking old and showing the wear of time
And many Seasons have passed since he was in his prime
Tired of the World and of his aging nagging wife
Happiness seems far away from his life... more »

Whoever made such a statement only the good die young
Only the good are remembered and their praises will be sung
Still only the living are important and advice here for every ageing woman and man
Do not regret that you had not died young you live for as long as you can.... more »

In leaky boats from Syrian war zones far away
Hundreds of refugees arrive in Europe every day
But to undertake such a dangerous journey one needs luck on their side
And in boats that have sunk many people have died... more »

In leaky boats from Syrian war zones far away
Hundreds of refugees arrive in Europe every day
But to undertake such a dangerous journey one needs luck on their side
And in boats that have sunk many people have died... more »

The old fields were in their wildflowers of the May
And in the leafy groves the birds sang all the day
And the dipper did sing in the silver tongued rill
That babbled to the river down the fields by the hill... more »

Back there in the fields by the old stream I daydreamed I would be a poet
That I would become very famous a literary person of note
But daydreams as we know are daydreams and daydreams do seldom come true
And life it has formed the habit of giving us what we are due.... more »

Perhaps i will never more live near Millstreet Town
Where i grew from a boy to a man when my hair was dark brown
But going back the years this now seems long ago
And time that rusts iron has since become my foe... more »

Their sort often honoured in story and song
Those men who worked for Cunningham and Kelleher on the pipeline in Buninyong
Back in the late eighties a long time ago
Since then time on them has become their foe... more »

Old Clara in his December hat of snow
And in the old fields Finnow bank high did flow
And low gray looking clouds that held rain or sleet
In the sunless sky above the Town of Millstreet... more »

The leaves on the trees gently stirring in the breeze
In weather temperatures near to perfect of twenty degrees
In the blue and sunny sky just a few clouds of gray
How good to be living on such a nice day... more »

It has been many years since my hair was dark brown
Since i lived in Claraghatlea close to Millstreet Town
The years have left me looking balder and older and gray
And time on my life ever ticking away... more »

Have you ever thought of how time ticked on so fast
As in your mind you re-lived the memories of Seasons long past
Of the place of your younger years from where you now live far away
And of the boys and girls you knew there where might they be today... more »

Only the most arrogant can claim post death of us what lay ahead
We live for a short while and are forever dead
The sheep or the dog or the cow may not know they will die
But are they any less mortal in any way than i?... more »

In a World where millions of people for attention compete
The down to earth people becoming harder to meet
So many do dream of material wealth and fame
But few Worldwide become known by name... more »

We are only the sum total of our life's experiences as the wise one does say
What you learn in your very young years makes you the person you are today
Our early childhood mentors in our lives a huge part does play
And we learn as we live life seems to work in this way... more »

The winner of course was the best on the day
And as usual was the recipient of the loud hooray
But for one for to win many do have to lose
Though that is something anyone does not choose... more »

The same for the scientist as for the athlete
In their chosen career people with each other compete
Many are found to be wanting when put to the test
And little consolation to them on being told that they did try their best... more »

One might say they kicked their way into renown
The heroes of football are played through the town
Behind the citizens band on the sidewalks the happy fans singing loud
Waving the club colors delighted and proud... more »

Only the best come out winning victory is always so sweet
And it is hard to be gracious when you've swallowed the dregs of defeat
Like they say show us a very good loser and I'll show you one born to lose
Out of a place you are beaten and you will not make headline news.... more »

Peader's Prize trained in Kanturk By James Manley and Pats Newdown owned and trained by Dan Halloran of Knocknagree
Remain as the only Duhallow dogs to claim outright victory
In the North Cork Cup in the Town Park in Millstreet Town
I was there on the days that they raced to renown... more »

Only winners the masses do wish to recall
In sports as in life the winner takes all
And though losing is a thing anyone does not choose
For one for to win someone else has to lose... more »