Rathduane's Big Con Dineen

The days of the tug of war or the rope pull in Ireland may be in the long gone But old memories die hard they seem to linger on At carnivals or festivals the rope pull was always the highlight of the day Good memories of what was till death with us will stay I remember the rope pull in the carnival in Millstreet Where the best in Duhallow and Sliabh Luachra to test their strength against each other did compete Ballydaly a champion rope pulling team had their anchor man in Big Con Dineen A stronger individual than he was i have never seen With strong men struggling to hold their ground in the Town Park of Millstreet Ballydaly's anchor man Big Con Dineen held firm on his feet A barrel chested broad shouldered giant of a man he refused to give in One reason that Ballydaly at tug of war so many trophies did win A humble man who always left it to others his praises to sing Quite famous in Cork and Kerry when rope pulling was an in thing For his natural strength Rathduane's Big Con Dineen was one who became widely known And the people of Ballydaly were proud to claim him for their own With him as the rope anchor to win the money on Ballydaly was on For he was as strong as two strong men the colossus Con Till time that rusts iron too became his foe The mighty man Rathduane's Big Con Dineen he died years ago.