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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FATHER O'FLYNN, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Of priests we can offer a charmin' variety
Last Line: Chorus--here's a health to you, father o'flynn, etc.
Subject(s): Clergy; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops


Of priests we can offer a charmin' variety,
Far renowned for larnin' and piety:
Still, I'd advance you, widout impropriety,
Father O'Flynn as the flower of them all.

CHORUS.

Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,
Slainte, and slainte, and slainte agin:
Powerfulest preacher, and
Tinderest teacher, and
Kindliest creature in ould Donegal.

Don't talk of your Provost and Fellows of Trinity,
Famous for ever at Greek and Latinity,
Dad and the divels and all at Divinity,
Father O'Flynn 'd makes hares of them all.
Come, I vinture to give you my word,
Never the likes of his logic was heard
Down from Mythology
Into Thayology,
Troth! and Conchology, if he'd the call.

CHORUS--Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn, etc.

Och! Father O'Flynn, you've the wonderful way wid you,
All ould sinners are wishful to pray wid you,
All the young childer are wild for to play wid you,
You've such a way wid you, Father avick!
Still, for all you've so gentle a soul,
Gad, you've your flock in the grandest conthroul:
Checking the crazy ones,
Coaxin' onaisy ones,
Liftin' the lazy ones on wid the stick.

CHORUS--Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn, etc.

And though quite avoidin' all foolish frivolity,
Still at all seasons of innocent jollity,
Where was the play-boy could claim an equality
At comicality, Father, wid you?
Once the Bishop looked grave at your jest,
Till this remark set him off wid the rest:
"Is it lave gaiety
All to the laity?
Cannot the clargy be Irishmen too?"

CHORUS--Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn, etc.





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