A few supporters who were too old

by Margaret O'Driscoll

A few supporters who were too old
to serve in the military role
A member of Cumann na mBan
Unusual activity  in Bantry, Comhola,
Kealkil, Glengarry, Durrus, Kilcrohane
and Drumsullivan
Pillow cases and sheets, an underblanket,
a telephone
This phone was in contact with a
Morse sounder and messages were read
off the bells of phone
Messages came through a world in monochrome
The enemy forces never knew what to expect next

Reproduced with kind permission of the author. This poem was composed in Poetry as Commemoration workshops held at Bantry Literary Festival in July 2023. The workshops were led by writer Thomas McCarthy.

Inspired by the following document:

Bureau of Military History Witness Statement: James O’Sullivan, Rock Villas, Bantry, Co. Cork. O/C, Bantry Company, Bantry Battalion, Cork