Rinty Monaghan
Born in Belfast's sailortown, John Joseph was his name,
Better known as Rinty Monaghan, and boxing was his game
He took the world flyweight crown from Jackie Paterson,
In the kings hall in his hometown Irish eyes were smiling
It was in the bosco fighting club were he learned his steely trade,
Put up your fists young Monaghan and never be afraid
He sparred with Johnny Bashem and bomber Billy Brown,
They fought for pennies in the Chapel fields until the night came down
Chorus
Rinty Monaghan Belfast son, were the people in the cafes yelled
Come on give us a song, Rinty Monaghan Belfast son,
were the people in the cafes yelled
Come on give us a song
Took a ferry bound for England where he joined a fighting booth
Trading punches with Freddie Mills, in a fight he didn't loose
He sang I'm always chasing rainbows at a bout in Haringay
Then turned to Terry Allen says I'll return again some day
He challenged Maurice Sanderyon to fight him for his crown
But the Frenchman knocked him in the third and laid him to the ground
The referee had counted nine before the tin tin rose
Then he danced his way from danger before he struck the winning blow
Repeat chorus
It was in the 1950s when he hung up his gloves,
Retired a world champion but singing was his love
With his band the rintonians he went out on the road
The working man's Sinatra in his own home town
He died in 1984 a contender to the end,
The fighting man from sailortown, always the people's friend,
They lined Corporation street with flowers and eulogies,
To the hero and the legend Rinty Monaghan
Repeat chorus
Written By Padraig Lalor August 2005
The Jeannie Johnston
VI
Between 1848 and 1855 the Jeannie Johnston sailed across the sea
Carrying famine victims from Ireland
to Quebec from Tralee
Chorus
She made her maiden voyage on April 24,
with around 200 starving on board,
all in search of a new life away
from the homeland and the famine ravaged hoards
V2
The captain was a Cork man the ships' doctor Dublin born
The crew they came from all sides of the globe
The passengers were farmers, labourers and artisans
Women and children of the robe
Repeat chorus
V3
On the eve of the journey a baby boy was born,
he drew his first breath in the squall
His mother cried out to the heavens above,
sweet Jesus and Mary save my son
Repeat chorus
V4
He was christened on board before she set sai
A saint Christopher was pinned to his shawl,
he become the lucky charm of the captain and his crew
on a ship that never lost a soul
Chorus
She made her maiden voyage on April 24,
with around 200 starving on board,
all in search of a new life away from the homeland
On a ship that never lost a soul, on a ship that never lost a soul
Written By Padraig Lalor September 2005
Two Pennies
Searching through a drawer one day
I found a small brown box
It contained two copper coins
They didn't seem a lot
The date on them was 1912
That stirred my memory
Of my fathers' final journey
On the north Atlantic sea
I watched with many thousands
As the ship left Belfast lough
Unsinkable I heard men say
She's as great as the Albert Clock
I gripped the coins so tightly
As he put them in my hand
And the last thing that he said to me
Save them till I return
Chorus
Two Pennies for your love, two pennies for luck
Keep them safe till I return for you
I'm sailing away bound for America
On a ship called Titanic
I was just a boy of four
On that April day
My mother died some weeks ago
Now my father must go away
To search for work in America
And to find for us a home
For me and my brother Tommy
It's life for us alone
Years roll on and tears run dry
My memories are still fresh
This town had heroes on that ship
Its people know them best
At a gathering for our lost ones
I cried most bitterly
And I clutched the copper pennies
That daddy gave to me
Repeat chorus
Written By Padraig Lalor September 2005
