The Mechanics’ Institute

The Mechanics’ Institute

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THE world wags along at its usual pace;

The year ’85 is near over and done;

King Christmas again shows his jolly old face,

And bids us be happy and join in the fun;

So let us rejoice in the Institute,

And raise up our voice through the Institute;

Then, fill to the brim, here’s confusion to him

Who would injure our men of the Institute!

Too long has the tradesmen been pushed on one side

To make room for some flunkey or partisan,

Who thought is the thing in his ignorant pride

To look down with contempt on the artisan.

But we’ll toast the success of our Institute,

And our wrongs we’ll redress through the Institute,

Though the men we have made are fast sending the trade

Far away from the men of our Institute.

The days of dissension are over and passed,

And our men should grasp this opportunity,

To show their belief in the motto at last,

That power and strength lie in unity.

So we’ll give three times three for the Institute,

Toast Ireland free in the Institute;

We’ll shortly ‘talk Greek’ to the West-British clique

That’s now sending the trade from our Institute.

Our students and statesmen may worry and fret,

And surmise why their customers get so poor,

Though cash that is earned by Irishmen’s sweat

But sent to some Sassenagh epicure.

Then we’ll join in a cheer for the Institute,

And a happy New Year to our Institute,

Give one wild hurrah that will shake Ballina

For our own worthy men of the Institute.

John Bull can of course have his beer and roast beef,

And can boast about English prosperity,

While we have starvation and our-door relief

To bequeath to our Irish posterity.

Will we stand calmly by in the Institute,

Until hunger’s dread cry thrills the Institute;

Our trade means the lives of our children and wives,

Then fight for your life and the Institute.

                                Ned Monaghan

                                             Ballina, 23^rd November, 1891.