Dublin 1964 12317

Dublin 1964© Tony Fallon 1/23/17.

I was nineteen years old, out of work and not using my brain

So one morning I headed off to Dublin on the Westport train

I had never before been to this part of the nation

And I was excited getting off in Westland Row station

I was coming up from Roscommon for an interview

I didn’t know the difference between a Street and an Avenue

I was going to apply in Clery’s as I was in the drapery trade

There weren’t many jobs in Roscommon I was a bit dismayed

I had a letter of introduction from the local parish priest

They say If Mr. Guiney saw that your chances greatly increased

Well he liked the priest’s letter and he told me I had a job

Now I’d have nine pound in my pocket as well as fourteen bob.

Walking around the streets was exciting for a young country bloke

There were lots of things I’d like to buy but I was practically broke

The short clothes the young ones were wearing I really couldn’t believe

As I walked up and down O’Connell St I really did not want to leave

I did not stay very long not more than four hours I’d have guessed

Then I made my way down the street to my train back home to the west

As the train chugged though the towns and the farmland I felt pretty glad

Until I realized in a few day I’d be saying goodbye to my mother and dad

I had a few friends in Dublin on Saturday with their father I had a wee chat

And before we parted he gave me the address of their Dublin flat

So early on Sunday morning to Dublin I started to hike

I knew the bus was behind me as they were not out on strike

Not many people wanted to stop because I had a suitcase

Someone brought me to Athlone which is my birthplace

A couple brought me to Kinnegad so I could not despair

That would knock at least eight shillings off the bus fair

I was half way there now and feeling good that is the truth

When a young fellow and his girl friend brought me to Maynooth

There were hourly buses to Dublin now but I still refrained

I’d keep thumbing unless the weather changed and it rained

Ten minutes later my prayers were answered and I was in God’s Grace

An elderly couple would be passing by my friends on Gardiner Place

I hadn’t seen my friends in month’s boy were they surprised

And there was a vacancy in the house that they just had advertised.

So a day that started out edgy in the west ended as an upper

My friends were happy to see me and I was in time for supper.