An Attack at Arva

by St. Mary's NS

Twas the 25th of September 1920 

In a little town called Arva 

With people a plenty

A quiet Autumn night

 

Everyone was sleeping

Except the IRA who were creeping.

Down Main Street

Leading to Carrigallen.

 

His name was Michael Brennan,

A sergeant in town.

He was there on that night

The attack at 11:30.

 

There was seven in Master’s house next door,

 All brought to the ground floor

They were covered in blankets 

One woke up to see General Seán McKeon.

 

From the roof of Corcoran’s

They threw grenades, the roof broke

Everyone hoped it was a joke

…Until they saw the smoke.

 

Connolly brought a bottle of Whiskey

To the policemen who were shocked

Michael resigned the month after

The fateful attack at Arva.

Written by Michael Dobson, Luke Fox, René Pokuta, Jonathan Smith and Annabelle Symonds as part of Poetry as Commemoration workshops led by Frank Galligan in  St. Mary’s NS, Arva, Co. Cavan, in October 2022.