P. A. McHugh, M.P.

(Written on the occasion of the unveiling of his Statue.)



The bravest of the brave he was,

Our own P. A. McHugh;

Of Ireland’s sons the very best,—

The truest of the true.



All Nationalists who pass this spot

Will know that standing here

They have a gallant Irishman

Who never knew of fear.



When Farmers pass along this way

Their feelings will be shown,¬—

Here is the champion of their rights

Who made their cause his own.



The Labourers will pass along,

And when a glance they cast,—

Here is the man who toiled for them

In harness to the last.



The Merchant and the Trader too

Will raise their hats and say,

“Here is the man who backed us up

In ev’ry legal way.”



When pompous Landlords motor past

They willingly will own it,—

“He fought us tooth and nail, but still

A generous opponent.”



The Poor will sadly stand and gaze

A sign of worth the surest,—

For all he had to Ireland went,

And he remained the poorest.



When children from the various streets

Come here to play and toddle,

Here is a man they well may take

To be their future model.



The Great and Mighty well may say,—

“We now admit it wholly,

He battled for the poor and weak,

The humble and the lowly.”



Ambitious men will look and ask

To what he owes his station,—

His loyalty to every cause

That helped the Irish nation.



Each Father now will take his son,

Upon this site to see him,—

There is the man who gave his life

And energies to free him.



Hosts of friends will pass this way,—

His foes grew few and fewer,—

No better friend had ever lived,

No stauncher friend or truer.



A trusted Leader, tried and true,

Who with the People sided;

Their aspirations, every one,

Were all to him confided.



The idol of a race oppressed

Who for their rights persisted,

The greatest of all Sligomen

Who ever yet existed.



In admiration and in love

This statue now we view,

Erected here in Sligo Town

To Great P. A. McHugh.



in London Notes. J. F Cunningham.



