John Leary Of Gortavehy Poem by Francis Duggan

He was the best stone mason that i have ever known
John Leary of Gortavehy he built great walls of stone
He worked for the Cork County Council and as a Schoolgoing boy
To see him working at his trade a thing i did enjoy.

A quiet sort of a fellow in his own gentle way
To support his wife and daughter he worked hard for his pay
The Council's top stone mason in decades long gone by
His worth as a stone wall builder of him none could deny.

As a builder of dry stone walls with him none to compare
Stone masons of his calibre to say the least are rare
I knew him in my younger years when his better days were gone
And though decades with the departed good memories live on

Of the builder of the dry stone walls of the Duhallow Countryside
A quiet and unassuming fellow who in his work took pride
In the Barony of Duhallow he built many a fine stone wall
He was the quiet achiever and one i feel happy to recall.