Of priests we can offer a charmin' variety,Far renowned for larnin' and piety;Still, I'd advance you, widout impropriety, Father O'Flynn as the flower of them all.
Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,Slainté, and slainté, and slainté agin; Powerfullest preacher, and Tinderest teacher, and Kindliest creature in ould Donegal.
Don't talk of your Provost and Fellows of Trinity,Famous for ever at Greek and Latinity,Dad and the divels and all at Divinity, Father O'Flynn 'd make hares of them all.Come, I vinture to give you my word,Never the likes of his logic was heard, Down from Mythology Into Thayology, Troth! and Conchology, if he'd the call.
Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,Slainté and slainté, and slainté agin; Powerfullest preacher, and Tinderest teacher, and Kindliest creature in ould Donegal.
Och! Father O'Flynn, you've the wonderful way wid you,All the ould sinners are wishful to pray wid you,All the young childer are wild for to play wid you, You've such a way wid you, Father avick!Still, for all you've so gentle a soul,Gad, you've your flock in the grandest conthroul; Checking the crazy ones, Coaxin' onaisy ones, Liftin' the lazy ones on wid the stick.
Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,Slainté, and slainté, and slainté agin; Powerfullest preacher, and Tinderest teacher, and Kindliest creature in ould Donegal.
And though quite avoidin' all foolish frivolity,Still at all seasons of innocent jollity,Where was the play-boy could claim an equality At comicality Father, wid you?Once the Bishop looked grave at your jest,Till this remark set him off wid the rest: "Is it lave gaiety All to the laity? Cannot the clargy be Irishmen too?"
Here's a health to you, Father O'Flynn,Slainté, and slainté, and slainté agin; Powerfullest preacher, and Tinderest teacher, and Kindliest creature in ould Donegal.
