Matty Mccarthy

He worked for Tom Mulcahy and the Duggan brothers And he loved working and he worked hard for every pay But a crippling stroke forced him to retire early And robust health with him just did not stay. It had to be hard for such an active fellow To suddenly find himself in a wheelchair But his wife Sheila was a natural carer And she showered him with tender loving care. Matty McCarthy raised his family in the hard days When men had to work hard for every bob When unemployment reached it's peak in Ireland And one was lucky to have any sort of job. On fine Summer evenings he sat on his wheelchair At Claramore beside his cottage gate And I often talked to him for he seemed lonely Though he said he felt resigned to his fate. He often talked of work and of how he loved working And he did work hard all of his working life And he said I've been lucky despite all I've been through With two good children and a marvellous wife. He did not live on to see his grandchildren As the crippling stroke it shortened his life span But I'll always remember Matt McCarthy For he was such a good and decent man.