There is no greater spectacle
As two teams ready for battle
For club or province or country
In the great game we call Rugby.

A game of defence and attack
One against one, pack against pack,
Punishing scrums, hard tackling,
Great kicking and ball handling.

No quarter given nor expect
All play with mutual respect
Though each team give their all to win
All play with such great discipline.

Each player there for the other
All supporting one another
Each combining to make the whole
Working towards a common goal.

Players give it all on the day
Leave nothing on the field of play.
A game full of heart and passion.....
And valuable life lessons.

Beautiful, breath taking views
Of vast volcanoes and bright blue seas
Scorching sun and high temperatures
Palm trees swaying in a soft breeze.
Through landscapes layered with black lava
White washed walls wind their way
Around gardens full of fantastic flora
Where lizards and geckos love to play.
Ships sail by beyond the breakers,
Planes pass over as they come in to land,
Promenades packed with holidaymakers
By beaches of beautiful golden sand.
Sun loungers and swimming pools
Hours of rest and relaxation
Siestas while the hot sun cools
Poolside bars for cool libations.
Spectacular sunsets in surrounding skies
Each day ending in such serene splendour
Reds pinks, blues, greys and turquoise;
Colours any artist would be challenged to render.
Pubs clubs and restaurants of such variety
activities that appeal to everyone
Local residents renowned for their hospitality
Make Matagorda a paradise second to none.

Committing to change is the key,
Having a plan, a strategy.
Aims and goals that are within reach,
Not stopping 'til you achieve each.
Guarding against ambivalence,
Embracing the experience.

All those who look but do not see,
Those who listen but do not hear,
Show such a lack of empathy
That those who truly care should fear.

.

I would rather be
unpopular
for all the right reasons
than popular
for all the wrong ones.

Within me the voices
Of virtues and vices
Battle valiantly
Daily for victory.

Every day you could wake up and choose
To try something new; What have you to lose?
Or you could just stay in your comfort zone,
Do for all your days all you've ever known.

Whatever you choose either way is fine,
It is up to you; It's your life not mine.
But do not forget... Life is for living;
To have no regrets the ultimate thing.

Stop counting the days,
start making the days count,
stop wishing your life away
or regrets will mount.
Remember life is for living,
make the most of every day,
embrace simply everything
that life throws your way.
Each day of life is so precious
a gift so truly wonderful
there is a certain onus on us
to live our lives to the full.
Yesterdays belong in the past
tomorrows are always a day away
Live every day like it’s your last;
Because it will be one day.

Are we nearly there Dad?
Is it very far?
Oh he is going to drive me mad
We had just got in the car

Are we nearly there Dad?
Have we far to go?
Oh God this is bad
We had only gone a mile or so

Are we nearly there Dad?
Is it far away?
Why don’t you take out your i-pad
There must be games you can play

Are we nearly there Dad?
I really have to ***
I know this is sad
I think he’s doing this deliberately

Are we nearly there Dad?
Is it much further?
I’m losing what patience I had
I will be done for ******.

Are we nearly there Dad?
This is taking a long time
Please, please stop asking lad
Before I commit an awful crime

Are we nearly there Dad?
This is not much fun
You are getting on my nerves a tad
Please give it over Son

Are we nearly there Dad?
I am feeling very sick
Just one more problem to add
I am at the end of my wick

Are we nearly there Dad?
I am really bored
I hope this is just a fad
He might stop if he’s ignored

Are we nearly there Dad?
He asked rather sleepily
If he sleeps I will be glad
I thought, rather guiltily

Are we nearly there Dadeeee?
He started to whine
Why must he keep on and on at me
I really feel like crying

Are we nearly there Dad?
I said yes, five minutes more
It was a white lie, what a cad
But at last, I heard him snore.

Are we nearly there Dad?
I said "yes son, eventually"
“I just want to go home Dad!!”
he began screaming incessantly

Are we nearly there Dad?
Louder and louder he screams
It’s been years since those trips we had
But I still hear him in my dreams!

Are we nearly there Grandad?
my grandchildren ask me now
these days I don't find it too bad
I've gotten used to it somehow!

Why wait, hesitate?
Put things off, procrastinate?
Spring into action!

When lost in the depths of despair,
When all hope appears to be gone,
One has to dig even deeper
To find the strength to carry on.
Though one may doubt the strength is there,
It lies within us all somewhere.

To resolve any
Difficult issue
All one needs simply
Is the resolve to.

To the enemy you cannot forgive
You shall be bound for as long as you live.
Only forgiveness can sever the bond,
Can set you free to finally move on.
Though to forgive can be so hard to do,
Forgive not for your enemy....but you.

I love you more than words can e'er express,
More than possibly you could ever know.
For with you I have found true happiness
And the meaning of true love I now know.
I could have had no way of foreseeing
That I could love someone as you I do;
With every fibre of my being,
Certain the only one for me is you.
That we should never part each day I pray,
That you should be part of my life always,
For I love you more with each passing day,
Know I shall love you for all of my days.
I feel we were meant to be together,
That you and I are soulmates forever.

Ne'er can any mountain be climbed
Unless at first one is inclined!

Who is confident
Will be cognisant
Others may be right.
Who is arrogant
Will be adamant
They alone are right.
Therefore arrogance
Is just confidence
That's asserted; Right?
Or it may just be
Insecurity,
This need to be right.
To make others small
So one can feel tall
Is never alright!
Who gains this insight
Will have seen the light
And will do all right.

For what is past do not lament,
Yearn not for what is yet to be.
Learn to live now; in the moment
For it passes so fleetingly....

Each one of us is different,
Every one of us unique,
Not one of us should pass judgment,
Ill of our fellow man should speak.
For each one of us has value
that not one of us should begrudge;
To judge others says more of you
than any of those you might judge.
None of us are superior
To think so is pure arrogance,
Thinking others inferior
Highlights only your ignorance.

The deepest wounds leave scars that never go
Perhaps so that we and others may know
That all our pain and suffering is real
And becomes a part of us as we heal.
Tho' often 'tis the deepest wound by far
Which hurts most yet leaves no visible scar.

If the whole world but a stage be
Whose cast of characters are we,
What genre fits your life story,
A thriller, farce or comedy?
A romance or perhaps maybe
Drama, action, or tragedy?

Would you be the stage manager,
The producer or director?
Would you be the lead character,
Or play a supporting role or
Just appear occasionally,
Happy just an extra to be?

And when the final curtain falls
Will you have given it your all?
Will others demand an encore
Or will they have expected more?
But of the most significance....
How will you rate your performance?

Default! Default! parties from the left cried!
But the people said no, they still had their pride
They viewed these parties with some skepticism,
and tackled the problem with true stoicism
There were no riots, no violent demonstrations,
as was evident in many other debt ridden nations
We simply put our heads down and got on with the task,
answering all of the questions the world had to ask

And now through our efforts things seem to have improved,
with a deal on the promissory note having just been approved
We still owe the money but we have more years to pay,
we can only hope our grandchildren will pay it off one day
There are green shoots of recovery, all is not lost
We learned a valuable lesson, though at a significant cost
We have done well though we cannot let down our guard
A sentiment echoed recently by one Christine Lagarde

We cannot get carried away with president Obama’s praise
For Enda Kenny on Paddy’s day, of all the days!
though lauded in Europe as a good example to everyone
we must not relax, there is a lot more to be done
But after all the cost cutting, redundancies, pay cuts,
all we get from Europe now is more ifs and buts
And I know this is wrong before I’ve even said it;
but for all of our hard work, would Europe not give us some credit?

The perfect someone there is not
For imperfect beings are we,
So for the perfect one look not...
But one who is perfect for thee.

Live not the life that others think you should.....
Live instead the life that you yourself would!

Those who can clearly see and clearly hear
Who choose to turn a blind eye, a deaf ear
To all they do not wish to see or hear,
Are clearly shallow; clearly insincere.
Their own happiness is all they hold dear;
That they care not for others is quite clear.

I know not what it is of which you speak
When you do speak of the impossible,
For with every passing day I seek
To push myself whenever possible.
Things I thought were impossible before
I subsequently went on to achieve,
And know I am capable of much more
If only in myself I can believe.
How can anybody possibly know
What in the future might be possible?
For with each day we develop and grow
Do we not redefine our potential?
Each new day brings new opportunities,
Offering endless possibilities.

Day turns to night, crowds on the road,
Bonfires ignite, bangers explode.
Fireworks fly high, burst in the air
Dogs bark and cry, smoke everywhere.
Chinese lanterns float way on high
Flicker and burn, light up the sky.
Candle-lit pumpkins that terrorise
With wicked grins and evil eyes.
Cobwebs, spiders, vampires and bats
Ghosts and monsters, witches black cats,
Skeletons skulls, crosses, tomb stones
Look wonderful haunting most homes.

Children galore take to the street
Knock on each door, play trick or treat
Costumes vary, monsters and such
Some quite scary, some not so much
Bags big and small, buckets or tins,
Carried by all to keep treats in.
Getting goodies at every door,
Bars and lollies and so much more;
Monkey nuts, gum, fruit and sweets too  
Money from some, a coin or two.
Kids excited, loving it all,
Each delighted with their own haul.

Halloween treats like colcannon,
Barmbracks with a ring in each one,
Traditional games for everyone,
Snap apple great Halloween fun.
Scary stories of days gone by,
Horror movies to terrify,
Howls and screams, nervous laughter,
Many bad dreams for weeks after.
There is no other night like Halloween,
People more frightened than they've ever been.
A great occasion for young and old,
Cannot wait for the next one, truth be told.

A full moon suspended
In a slate grey sky
Wisps of clouds illuminated
As they drift casually by.

Stars sparkle brightly
Un-obscured by any cloud
The Milky Way packed tightly
Where thousands seem to crowd.

Aeroplanes criss- cross the skies
For far off cities bound
Cats and dogs night time cries
The only other sounds

Moths and many other creatures
Flutter furiously in the light
Spiders crawl from cracks and fissures
In their element at night

A serene and soothing silence
Steadily descends
Night in all of its magnificence
As yet another day ends.

Entwined, despair and hope
As two strands of the one rope...

Do you think about me every day?
Am I always on your mind?
Each night do you kneel and pray
For one day me to find?
Do you wonder if I look like you,
Have your personality?
If I like the same things you do?
Or if we differ completely?

Do you search for me in others faces
Certain that you will know me?
Do you love going to new places
Hoping there is where I will be?
Do you constantly worry about me?
Wonder how my life has been?
Does your heart ache longingly
For a life that might have been?

Do you worry that you may never
get the opportunity to know me?
That we should be apart forever?
That my face you may never see?
Do you have difficulty coping?
Have a yearning that never goes away?
Do you never give up hoping
That we will find each other someday?

Do you feel a painful gaping void?
That you are somehow incomplete?
Do you feel a longing deep inside
For the day we eventually meet?
Do you question why we had to part?  
Worry I may have forgotten you?
I hope the answer is yes with all my heart
For these are all the things I do.

To myself I make a promise,
A vow to be all I can be;
To live up to my full promise,
To the true potential in me.

Winning is not all about beating your peers
Which many lose sight of, unfortunately.
It can be more about overcoming your fears
To be the best you can possibly be.

When men tell women they have the flu
That they have never felt so bad
The universal response, alas it’s true
Is for women to go stark raving mad!

Men with the flu are not taken seriously
By members of the opposite ***
Their illness the subject of great levity
Despite the debilitating effects!

Men are often told to simply stop whining,
(Like women never complain themselves)
Though it’s obvious their health is declining
They are just told to “get over your selves”

They tell us to grow up, be a man
suggest we need to grow a pair
“I work when I’m sick and so you can”
We are informed with a deathly stare.

We are told to man up, to stop snivelling,
They question whether we are men or mice
“Try giving birth if you want to know about suffering”
A phrase thrown at us more than once or twice.

They are always convinced it is just a cold
Though our temperature may be sky high
They are often adamant and will not be told
Though we feel like we’re going to die

Though sneezing and coughing like never before
Though our whole bodies are obviously aching
Sweating and shivering, every muscle sore
Yet they seem convinced that we are faking  

We are accused of being overly demanding!
They tell us not to be such a Mummys boy!
And though we might expect a little understanding
Most times they cannot even bother to try!

You would not think it was too much to ask
But it most certainly seems to be
though we are incapable of the simplest task
we can not get one ounce of sympathy

They accuse us of expecting a full time nurse
Though all we need is some loving care
But all the arguing just makes us worse
They never see they are being quite unfair

It seems that they really could not care less
they could not be bothered even trying
we feel bad enough but all this added stress
only makes us feel we’d be better off dying!

They accuse us of making a song and dance
Of making a mountain out of a mole hill
And really us men do not stand a chance
Unless we can prove beyond doubt we are ill.

Thank God for researchers at Stanford University
all men will forever be in their debt
They took the issue of men’s health very seriously
And studied the subject in depth.

They published their findings in 2013
Confirming the existence of the “Man Flu”
The research and conclusions are there to be seen
Facts with which no woman can argue.

It outlines facts you might not have known
Which may make you feel much better at once
It seems it’s men’s high levels of testosterone
That seriously weaken the immune response.

It is only because you are a real man,
because you actually have a pair
that you feel sicker than any woman ever can
it’s a scientific fact, so there!

So next time we get sick hopefully
Women might just believe that it’s true
Perhaps we may be taken more seriously
just in case we have the dreaded “Man Flu”!

The bad news alas, is that there is no cure
Though they are doing the best they can
So if your man gets the flu, ladies be sure
To be more patient,take great care of your man!

They gave their lives for an Irish nation,
Paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
Each of them signing the Proclamation
Which would guide Ireland in the years to come.
Thomas Clarke was the first signatory
With Patrick Pearse and Seán Mac Diarmada,
Also Joseph Plunkett, James Connolly,
Éamon Ceannt, Thomas Mary Mac Donagh.
Alas these were seven of many more
Who died as we fought for independence.
Whose names should be honoured for evermore
By us, our children and our descendants.
Never should we forget their legacy;
We owe them our freedom, our liberty

Please God never let the day come
When I need to seek asylum,
That my home I should have to flee,
That I become a refugee.

For there are many, not just some
Places I would not be welcome.
The number of which seems to grow,
Soon there will be nowhere to go.

Should you make me a refugee
Pray God not in vain let it be.
Let it teach all humanity,
Compassion, mercy, empathy.

Though darkness will often descend
One should remember on such days
That dark days shall come to an end
And the light will return always.

Without looking within
Can one truly begin
As a person to grow;
Ones mind to really know?

Without looking within
Truth is lacking wherein
Real truth not without lies,
But within us resides.

Without looking within
One is somewhat akin
To one who is half –blind;
Answers harder to find.
  
Without looking within
With honesty therein
How can one see the light;
Develop true insight?

Without looking within
Can one hope to begin
To attain peace of mind;
True happiness to find?

You will always be my little girl
Though now a woman in your own right,
And as you step out into the world
I pray to God you will be alright.
Though in cotton wool I would wrap you
To keep you from all harm if I could,
I understand that if I were to
That I would do you more harm than good.
Over the past few years you have grown
Into a wonderful young lady;
The strength of character you have shown
Tells me I have no need to worry.
So go girl! Do what you have to do,
There's a great big world waiting for you!
But remember, whatever you do,
That I shall always be here for you.
Love Dad x

Books left on bookshelves
Might as well be dead....
To bring them to life
They have to be read!

Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gay
What are they all only labels anyway?
Nowt of individuals do labels say,
Truth be told all they do is get in the way!
What is it with this need to put labels on?
What we really need is to see the person!
To judge others only by labels given
Is stupidity, hard to be forgiven.
So it is with gender, race, colour or creed;
And all other labels we just do not need.

If you are having a bad day
Full of problems, trouble and strife
Do not let it in any way
Make you think you have a bad life!

There are those with strongly held views
Who can be extremely forthright
When it comes to certain issues,
Believing they alone are right.
To shout and roar is not my style
Though that may come across as meek,
My quiet nature does beguile
For the last thing I am is weak.

Rather than force my opinion
Which alas many seem to do
I prefer at first to listen
To other peoples points of view.
By doing so I learn the facts
While showing others some respect.
Then can respond and not react;
Have a more positive effect.

It shows great insecurity
Or a lack of self confidence,
This seeming inability
To deal with valid arguments.
It is totally arrogant,
Makes absolutely no sense.
It is completely ignorant;
The height of low intelligence.

Ne’er will there be any other
Who can compare to a brother.
Younger or older matters nay
They are there for you, come what may.
Though a bond which is quite unique
‘Tis a love not oft of we speak.
Though they may know we hold them dear
Perchance it would be good to hear?

Those like David McWilliams tried to make us see the light,
but our politicians were quick to tell us everything was all right  
It’s grand they said; sure our economy is booming,
though now it appears they knew disaster was looming
It seems the easy credit and ridiculous property prices,
left the banks owing billions, facing a financial crisis
and one night our politicians agreed the bank guarantee,
borrowing billions from Europe, selling our sovereignty.

The billions owed by the banks were to be paid by you and me,
which meant we all faced years of austerity
The money disappeared almost as quickly as Fianna Fail,
we were at the mercy of the Troika, Angela Merkel and all.
We owed billions in the form of a promissory note,
with billions to be paid each year, by rote
The banks and the developers washed their hands of it all,
some even representing us now in the Dail!

Yes the banks and bond holders who were mostly to blame,
did not lose a penny, they knew how to play the game
But for us there’s no help, it’s an absolute shame,
and the politicians reasoning sounds completely lame
We had our politicians and the business world to thank,
but they laughed all the way to the nearest offshore bank
Swiftly followed by developers and entrepreneurs,
all this country got from them was a collective Up Yours!

Dreams do indeed come true
But not often by chance,
Mostly it comes down to
Hard work, perseverance.
Who counts on destiny,
Who never really tries,
Alas may never see
Any dreams realised.

For life owes us nothing
No matter how we yearn.
If we want anything
Then it has to be earned.
Life is what we make it,
Our dreams are like that too,
Without working for it
Dreams will never come true.

So if you have a dream
You would like to come true
The outcome it would seem
Depends largely on you.

Of all the chances that I ever took
The best by far was to open a book.
For I quickly discovered that to read
Is the most rewarding pastime indeed.

Then reading in me a spark did ignite
To a burning desire one day to write.
Thankfully though, that what writers most need
Is other books, other authors to read

Who the whole truth fails to reveal,
Who pertinent facts do conceal,
May not in truth a liar be
Though are truly untrustworthy;
Unscrupulous, devious, sly,
Dishonest, though they tell no lie.

Who knows all the right answers
Though intelligent may be...
Who knows all the right questions
So much wiser are truly.

There are many people clearly
Who dislike Michael O Leary
And his company Ryanair
Who offer flights abroad, low fare.
I have to say I am a fan,
I have great respect for the man
For how he built the company
And boosted our economy.
When with Ryanair I have flown
Very few problems have I known.
What I pay for is what I get;
The have never let me down yet!
And they are always improving
With passenger numbers proving
Many like to fly Ryanair
Despite all the bad press out there.
Let's give credit where it is due,
To Ryanair and Michael too.
Ryanair is undoubtedly
A great Irish success story.

For you Sister, in my heart
A place there will always be.
True, a very special part
As you mean so much to me.

All the moments that we share
Deep in my heart I treasure,
Just how much for you I care
Is beyond any measure.

You, Sister, are just the best
You make all our lives richer.
Indeed I feel truly blessed
To have you for my Sister.

After the moment of my death,
When I have taken my last breath,
Will there be those who mourn for me?
Who will grieve my passing sadly?  
Those who cherish my memory?
In whose hearts I will always be?

My dying wish is only that
Beyond words in an epitaph,
I be thought of once in a while
and draw a tear or cause a smile,
That some always remember me
should be my lasting legacy.

For those whom I now leave behind
I pray that life will treat you kind,
That you live your lives to the full
for Life can be so wonderful.
Your guardian angel I shall be
from now for all eternity.