To Editors of the Carlow Senitinel    Oct 12/41¹

Kinsale Oct 12/41

Sir,

In casting my eye over a Sentinel a few days ago,² the account of a repeal meeting held in Leighlin Bridge met my view – I was astonished to find some of the persons mentioned there figuring as heroes of the platform – Timothy Hennessy Esq?³ holds a prominent place in the catalogue of patriotic worthies – I find also from another source that the son of Mr Terence O’Neill⁴ of the Swan hotel Leighlin Bridge had thought proper to obtrude the produce of his tiny pen on public notice – I have read portions of two letters written by him on the subject of Repeal!⁵ Now this is overbearing – to see fellows with just as much brains as gateposts aspiring so high is a downright outrage on common sense – I could not let them pass without administering a slight castigation – Should it be deemed worthy of a place in the columns of the Sentinel⁶ it may be of some service to one or other of these puny champions.

I remain Sir – | your most obed^t humble serv^t | John Tyndall

The Eds of the Carlow Sentinel

I have reasons for not wishing my name to be mentioned in connexion with this nor even the quarter from which it came Should it gain insertion you will be so kind as to suppress both and merely place to it the letters – W.S.⁷

What sounds are these which strong and clear

Strike full upon my ravished ear?

’Tis freedom – bursting from the night

Of ages, sheds her glorious light

O’er Erin’s⁸ undulating plains

Her cloud-capped hills and mouldering fanes!

List!⁹ Carlow list! while young ONeill

Vociferated – Repeal! – Repeal!

Hark! rising to the shrilling cry,

The voice of Leighlin answers nigh.

See! as the swelling notes ascend

The poplars on the Bawnogue¹⁰ bend!

And echo wafts it far and wide;

Along the Barrow’s¹¹ placid tide.

And hark! along the eastern line,

The ‘Captain’s’¹² geese in cackle join

In council sworn – every one

To help their brother of the Swan*

With tail erect in wild amaze,

Each hungry ass in concert brays!

And had they Baalam’s gift¹³ you’d hear

Them give their fellow ass a cheer

Oh! who can con the glorious theme

Nor glow with all a patriot’s flame?

Strike! Erin Strike! the happy lyre,

Your Sons have caught the gen’rous fire;

And Tory Bruen waxes pale

Before the doughty young O’Neill;

And Tory tyrants now confess

This youth the lustre of the press.¹⁴–

And Tim¹⁵ honoured in modern Story,

(Sure youthful hearts will pant for glory)

From young ambition’s gleaming pyre

Has snatched the title of ‘Esquire’!

A man of stalwart consequence,

Though some assert a lackbrained fool,

The deadly foe of common sense

The wise man’s scoff – the villain’s tool

A bubble-full of empty pride,

The filth of agitation’s foam,

That drops into oblivion’s tide

‘Unwept – unhonoured – and unknown’.¹⁶

Oh! is it then such [pulling] things

That Erin’s dignity maintains?

Ah no! – each apish essay flings

A deeper tint upon her stains

Presumptuous Jackanapes! – resign

Your tiny pens to other hands

Fulfill your destiny’s design

Go mete the tape and measure drams!

Nor once again vain fools aspire

Beyond the counter’s genial noise,

In scorn my glowing thoughts expire

Goodbye ye patriotic boys! –

W. S.

* the Swan hotel

RI MS JT/8/2/1/1–2