Our delightful Rose of Tralee

SIR,

A poem on the wonderful Rose of Tralee for your consideration:

The curtain is rising on the ‘Rose of Tralee’

Our country ‘at home’ to the wide world will be

It’s meet we should welcome our guest to the portal

Of the valley which cradled the ‘Rose of Tralee’

Then up folks and give them a Kingdom’s reception

Let ‘cead mile failte’ ring out over the Lee

And maybe our friendship and kindly affection

Will leave them a memory of dear old Tralee

There gilding the Lily to praise our own Mary

The worlds darling sweetheart ‘The Rose of Tralee’

But sure we may say without seeming contrary

There’s lovely young roses today in Tralee

Oh there gentle and sweet as the rose in her hey-day

As charming and pretty as no doubt, was she

With eyes sparkling bright as the dew on a May day

They’re worthy of Mary ‘The Rose of Tralee’

The pale moon still shines o’er the blue mountain mellow

The red sun at evening still kisses the sea

As many a lad just like Mary’s young fellow

Is courting a budding young ‘Rose of Tralee’

And she’s charming and sweet though her name isn’t Mary

He loves her as truly what e’er it may be

Th’o time passes on ‘Love Old Songs’ doesn’t vary

There’ll be always a beautiful ‘Rose of Tralee’

Yours, PF Costelloe, Mitchels Road, Tralee