Here at LaoisToday, we love to celebrate all things Laois.
Helen Byrne, 18, from Rathleague in Portlaoise penned this wonderful poem about her town and sent it our way.
The young woman is studying in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and she revealed that the poem came to her while doing an assignment.
She said: “I’ve never done anything like this before.
“I was studying and it just came to me. So I started writing and before I knew it, I had the poem in front of me.”
Check out Helen’s poem, titled A Grand Auld Town’ below:
A Grand Auld Town
She’s had her moments, she had her few.
A grand auld town-that’s nothing new.
Atop the rock at Dunamase,
You’ll find some views that will amaze.
Rathleague, Summerhill, O’ Moore but a few,
A grand auld town- never words so true
From Maggie’s to Mixer and back again,
You’ll meet some characters now and then.
The towns moves on, the people remain,
A grand auld town- forever that same.
Memories shared and stories told,
The craic is had between young and old.
Downey’s garage we often pass by,
A grand auld town- you cannot deny.
Kavanagh’s and Keegan’s to get your fill,
A bag of chips from the Golden Grill.
Businesses a-plenty with lots to be sold,
A grand auld town- a sight to behold.
Transmitter play on Kavanagh’s stage,
A crowd builds up of many an age.
A cuppa for lunch in Kelly Lou’s,
Go on. One bun. There’s plenty to choose.
The people are great, the chat is long,
A grand auld town- I’m proud to belong.
She’s had her moments, she had her few.
A grand auld town-that’s nothing new.
Memory Lane’s been travelled down,
A grand auld town. A grand auld town.
By Helen Byrne
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