As many people will know, the late Maura O’Neill wrote many poems over the years. Some years ago, these were collected in book form by the Woodstock Heritage Museum. The entire book of poetry can be downloaded by clicking on the link below

A Ramble by the Nore – A Collection of Verse by Maura O’Neill

Below is one example of her poems.

Inistioge

Inistioge, like a precious jewel
Is set beneath the hill
On the pleasant banks of the River Nore.
At high tide, like a lake so still.
Across the graceful ten arch bridge
Is the village green so fair
With pathways, flowers and fountain
And lawns so green and bare.

Go on around the corner then,
And up the village street
There on the right a lovely square
Enclosed with chains, so neat.
Two churches stand across the way
In close proximity St. Mary’s and St. Colmcille’s
In perfect harmony.

Woodstock, a house of history,
Is high upon the hill, A
A place of peace and beauty now,
Its ruins are standing still.
Mount Sandford in the wood close by,
Portrays a vista grand,
A tapestry of hill and dale
Woven by ‘The Master’s Hand’.

Now stroll along the Ladies Walk
Beneath the trees so tall
And listen to the symphony
Of every woodland call.
Then back again to the village green
To while some time away,
And watch the Nore flow slowly by,
Thanks be to God for a perfect day.