A Song for Christy Ring                by Bryan MacMahon

Come gather round me boys tonight and raise your glasses high,
Come Rockies, Barrs and Rovers stars, let welcome hit the sky,
Let bonfires blaze and heroes praise, let Shandon echoes fling,
For homeward bound with hurling crown comes gallant Christy Ring.

Come all you hurlers from the Nore, you lads from Corrib's side,
From Garryowen, gay and bold with Tipp's own men beside,
You may have hurlers straight and tall who can a camán swing
But where’s the name can play the game with Cork's own Christy Ring.

When we were young we read in school how in the days of old,
The young Setanta showed his worth with shield and spear of gold,
As hurling hard on royal sward he'd hurling heroes fling,
My soul today, he'd yield the sway if he met Christy Ring.

A health to faithful Wexford boys, to the Rackards and their team,
Should Cork surrender Ireland's crown may victory on them gleam,
John Kelly's name we hold in fame - of '98 we sing,
But Slaney's plan must find a man to equal Christy Ring.

How oft I've watched him from the Hill move here and there in grace,
In Cork, Killarney, Thurles town or by the Shannon's race,
"Now Cork is bet; the hay is saved!" the thousands wildly sing-
Don't speak too soon, my sweet garsún, for here comes Christy Ring.

When age has claimed this warrior brave, and ended is the fight,
And o'er the hearth he hangs at last both stick and trophies bright,
Come counties all both great and small who boast a hurling King,
There's none tonight can hold candlelight to Cork's own Christy Ring.

A tribute to Ireland’s greatest hurling legend; Christy Ring (1920 – 1979)
Hurling is Ireland’s national sport, one of the oldest and fastest field sports in the world.
“Rockies, Barrs and Rovers”: Blackrock, St. Finbarr’s, and Glen Rovers. The three main hurling clubs in Cork City.
“Shandon echoes fling”. The bells of Shandon Steeple, a symbol of Cork city.
“Nore” The river Nore representing Kilkenny.
“Corrib’s side” the river Corrib, representing Galway.
“Garryowen” i.e. Limerick.
“Tipp” Tipperary.
“camán” (com-awn) a hurley.
“Setanta” the name of the young Cúchulainn; a hero from Irish mythology.
“Rackards” the Rackard brothers, Wexford contemporaries of Ring.
“John Kelly” Kelly the Boy from Killane; a ballad about the 1798 Rising in Wexford.
“Shannon’s race” the River Shannon, representing Limerick.
“Cork is bet” Cork is beaten.
“the hay is saved” a farming allusion, the final of the hurling championship takes place after harvest time.
“garsún” boy