On An Email From Russell Murphy Poem by Francis Duggan

Received an email from Russell Murphy in Australia though he had not all good news of to tell
His cousin Eddie Murphy of far off Ballydaly in hospital and not feeling well
Which is sad for his family and many friends and Delia his beloved wife
But i feel sure Eddie will come good again in him there are more years of life

My memories of Eddie Murphy for more than six decades does span
Tall and handsome in his young years he was quite a gentleman
In his prime for the Ballydaly Club he played Gaelic Football
A good and kind hearted person in him there is nothing small

His great greyhound Poundie's Gift raced in the Irish Oaks final in Dublin going back decades in time
When Eddie was a young man a few years short of his physical prime
He and Delia with their greyhounds many big races did win
With their dogs of the Ballydaly prefix love of place comes from within

For so many years a member of the Millstreet Pipe Band
He played with them at sports and celebrations in many towns in Ireland
Unassuming and quietly spoken one who never yearns for fame
Just a good and decent person who never calls anyone out of name

An email from Russell Murphy in Australia who had some good news to tell
Though his cousin Eddie Murphy of Ballydaly in hospital and not feeling well
But Eddie is a man who loves life and i feel he will be okay
And next Spring he will be in Duhallow for to see the flowers of May.