A Farewell to Arthur

A Farewell to Arthur

ARTHUR Nealon, a prominent member of the Stephenite football team, lived in Durkan’s Lane, off the Market Square, left for America in 1908. He was born in 1890, the son of John and Margaret Nealon. He last visited Ballina in 1956 but was to pay another visit in the 1960s when he took ill and died. On leaving Ballina Railway Station on 16th October, 1908, Larry Doolan penned these words in his honour:

MELVIN’S VALEDICTORY TO A. NEALON

Farewell, God bless and send you luck,

Good fortune be your portion;

Remember, energy and pluck,

Work wonders o’er the ocean.

Another man knocked off our roll—

A tradesman and a scholar—

Don’t mind the points, but make your goal

The Great Almighty dollar.

Remember me to every man—

The Reillys and Long chappy,

Hugh Carroll and James Sullivan,

And last, not least, old Cappy