Chaos in Arva

by St. Mary's NS, Arva

On a cold evening on the 25th of September 1920.
Constable Michael Early was in the RIC barracks in
peaceful Arva.
Where he was having a nervous puff of his pipe.
While playing cards with the six other officers.

He could hear strange noises coming from Corcoran’s
and all of a sudden BANG!

The roof caved in and gunfire rippled throughout the town
and shocked everyone inside.

General Seán McKeon was on top of the roof,
Shouting at them to surrender.
More gunshots fired and bombs exploded,
They had no choice but to lay down their arms.

Connolly travelled long and far but eventually got them
their whiskey.
Luckily no one got shot.

Written by Andy Duffy, Leah Kiernan, David Smith and Neasa Ward as part of Poetry as Commemoration workshops led by Frank Galligan in  St. Mary’s NS, Arva, Co. Cavan, in October 2022.