You noble heroes of Paddy’s nation,
Draw near a while until I relate
Of a conversation between three girls,
The other night had a great debate.
They rose no rows nor no noisy voices.
They spoke quite civil as I could see.
They drew down heroes from their three counties
To know who’d boast of their history.

There was one from Limerick and one from Kerry
And another one from the County Clare.
And as those three girls sat down together
They could see all round them from everywhere.
Miss Limerick spoke saying, “I am the oldest.
You must excuse me to make so free.
The Limerick people they were never beaten,
They fought out brave for you all to see.”

Miss Clare made answer, saying, “You said that handsome,
But now is my time for to begin.
But for us in Clare in the days past over
Would e’er a bell in your churches ring?
We have O’Connell the great Lib’rator,
At the present time trying to set us free.
And while grass is growing and water flowing
He’s here in Ennis for the world to see.”

Miss Kerry blushed and she spoke quite hasty:
“Is that my son you are speaking of?
Sure we have O’Connell that noble hero,
From that grand old place they call Derrynane.
Where he got birth and good education
Until he was ready to meet the King.
And in twenty-nine he did blindfold them
When the Emancipation to us did bring.”

Miss Limerick spoke, saying, “’Tis all a joke,
And ‘tis not for quarrelling we sat down here.
That man you’re meaning, the Great Lib’rator,
We have his statue as well as ye.
We have brave Parnell and all his followers,
Doing all they can for to set us free.
I have one sixpence and we’ll have three half-ones,
And say no more about history!”