James Patrick Veale

A proud son of Kilkenny all his days, and a poet and sportsman.  James Veale was president of New York's Kilkenny Men's Association in the early 20th century.  He penned this when his Kilkenny team won the 1930 football championship:

New York Football champions 

Kilkenny 1920

 

There is joy tonight in Ossory, from Gowran to Glenmore

From ancient Kells across to where Poulnassy waters roar

From the hurlers of Moondharrig, to the banks of the Lingaun

From the storied town of rebel Ross, to the highlands ‘round Farnaun

 

Proud are the white walled cabins that claim a gallant son

Who played today in New York town, who played the game, and won

They beat the best, South East and West, in battles fierce and keen

And have never lowered their colours yet, Kilkenny’s Black and Green

 

They have won today though far away, upon the Yankee shore

Let their praises ring through mount and glen, by the Barrow, Suir and Nore

Let old Slievenamon look down upon and sing their praises too

For her gallant sons before them fell across the ocean blue

 

Beside the towering turrets of mighty Gotham town

Where monuments of Irish brawn from lowering clouds look down

To battle for the championship, your gallant sons went forth

Against Cavan’s famed O’Reilly’s, great champions of the North

 

The scattered Gael in thousands came, from the North, South, East and West

To see his game of boyhood days, played by Ireland’s best

Many a cheer rose ringing round, as Cavan took the field

Prepared to test Kilkenny’s best – who were never known to yield

 

The referee’s whistle sounds, the ball goes into play

Like flashing fire from out the skies, Jim Reddy breaks away

The leather goes from Phelan now, to Duggan of renown

And across to Tommy Daly, the pride of Cotterstown

 

Now Furlong and Jim Farrell, have charged the Cavan backs

With Kilkenny’s Matty Butler, in some fierce and grand attacks

Strong was that Cavan back defence against the "Miners" from the Nore

But the white flag fluttered in the breeze for the first Kilkenny score

 

Down came the mighty north men, and charged the miners ground

But down upon our halfback line, some fearless men they found

Here, Hanrahan and Doolan, from Gowran and Glenmore

Met, and then sent back in slashing style, amid a thunderous roar

 

Again the red clad North men came charging down the field

In fierce determination to make those back men yield

But Carroll, Dwyer and Aylward, across that goal were drawn

Sons of Kells, and old Knocktopher, with Jack Maher from Farnaun

 

There goes the final whistle sound, Kilkenny wins the day

There goes the news across the wave to homes far, far away

To homes in verdant Ossory who sigh for them in vain 

Saying! "Come back to me, I yet will be, A Nation Once Again"