Drumavoley working Brigade

Ye gallant sons of Paddy's land, that wander near and far,
Pray listen while I sing to you of a man named Robert Starr.
He is the gallant leader of an army stout and bold
and if you listen for a while their praises I'll unfold

It was on a Tuesday morning in October '58
these gallant lads assembled at Charlie Darragh's gate
and at a quarter past the hour when everything was still
the first man to strike a blow was the famous Joseph Pill

The enemy was an old thorn hedge, that had been there for years.
These gallant lads advanced on it, and gave three hearty cheers.
They mowed it down with shining hooks, without the least delay
and then the pipes were laid in place by McNabb from Ballinlea

These men they worked together for a week or maybe three,
when Mitchell said my gallant lads come listen here to me.
You'll have to take it easy or the job will soon be through,
and then once more you'll find yourselves at the Orange Hall Buroo

He upset the army into two and sent them on their way,
his men were to attack a sheugh on the face of Mullart's brae.
Commander Starr gave orders for his company to retire
and have a smoke and rest a while in Charlie Darragh's byre

Could you have seen these gallant lads stretched out upon the floor
to have a rest for just an hour, or perhaps a little more.
Then Commander Starr says "My boys, by a neighbour I've been told
if you don't get up and walk about you'll be frozen stiff with cold"

"Don't worry what the neighbours say" shouts Manus loud and clear
"My father is a surfaceman for nigh on twenty years.
He lies along the Queen's Highway for weeks and months untold
and never once I heard him say, I have got the blooming cold"

Now Mitchell's men they have advanced to somewhere in the Glen
and Starr is taking up the rear with the best of fighting men.
If they ever get that length, they'll surely save the day
and fight once more with their long lost chums
on the face of old Cool Brae


The scheme man's complaint

You big flashy farmers from around Drumavoley
just spare an old scheme man a minute or two
and I hope when you're finished you'll stop criticising
the hard working men from the Labour Buroo

I do not intend any names for to mention,
but please pay attention before I am through
should this gossip continue I'll name all the old farmers
that slandered the men from the Labour buroo

If you take a walk round your old sheughs and hedges
I'm sure you would find something useful to do
Then you wouldn't have time for to sit with your neighbours
and talk about the men from the Labour Buroo

You know very well they are hard working fellows
I could mention a dozen or nearly two
whose names will be shining in letters of silver
in years to come at the Labour Buroo

There is big John McFaul and a man named McQuillan
the Shirleys and Carson from around old Carndoo
McNabb, McErlaine and a man named John Hyndman
have long faithful service at the Labour Buroo

There is Morgan and Pill and a lad named O'Connor
Wee Hegarty the postman and Morrison too
There is Wisener and McGaughey from near Glentaughey
They are all strapping lads from the Labour Buroo

There is another half dozen I intended to mention
but I think for the present I'll only name two
Willie Mitchell and Starrs, better known as Commanders,
are leading the men from the Labour Buroo

Now it takes these two gaffers a while in the morning
to get them in motion but whenever they do,
they get at it like niggers, they are powerful diggers,
these stout hearted men from the Labour Buroo

They are cutting down trees and trimming old hedges,
they have widened the roadway and left it like new.
Yet you can here some old farmers still whispering
"Look at the lazy hounds from the Labour Buroo"

So please pay attention I want for to mention
these men are not lazy, they are ill with the 'flu
You would know by the way they rest on their shovels
these mighty fine lads from the labour Buroo

I think what they need is a wee run to Derry
or maybe Runkerry for a year or two
to finish their journey which was stoney and thorny
so goodbye my old pals from the Labour Buroo

This photocopy of a photo I assume came from the same newspaper:
Back Row:Andy McLernon, John McFaul, ? , Willie Lamont, Robert Starrs
Leaning on shovel: Alex McLernon,
Back row (leaning forward): ?
Front row (kneeling):? Hill, ? Kane, ?? , 'Doashy' McNeil

Can YOU provide the missing names?

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