BOFA at the Belfast Irish Heritage Festival

Kathy Garrison reads limericks

The BOFA Open Mic Event was held Sunday the 14th at the Heritage Festival.  There was no voting or judging so all entries were winners. All 13 entries were read at the Music & Arts stage at the Belfast Town Park to an appreciative audience. Many thanks to all who participated.-KG
2013 Theme:
“When the Irish Came to Belfast"
This broad topic illicited a diverse response.



The limericks submitted this year will be displayed at the BOFA art show at the Belfast Public Library in August.
This year's entries
Local farm boy Muldoon -of  wrestling fame
Returned bringing Irish fighters to train.
On his farm or in town
He ran them around,
So that in the boxing ring they would reign.
~Kathy Garrison, BOFA Member, Belfast, NY

There once was the village of Belfast
Where some Irish had come at last.
They often wore colors of orange and green
Which showed the area in Ireland from their past-
But their joy in being here could quickly be seen.
~Marie Nix, BOFA Member, Belfast, NY

There was an Irish man
Who met and Irish lass
They fell in love and soon were wed
At a lovely Irish Mass

There soon came Irish Children
One every other year.
And all were loved and raised in faith
And filled their house with cheer.

And soon their were Grandchildren
Then Great Grandchildren came
There was lots of fun and love
but the house was ne'er the same.
~Mary Mountain, Belfast, NY

When the Irish came to Belfast
They wore orange, white, and green.
They ran out of potatoes so they were very lean.
The Italians would never crash the scene-
Because John L. Sullivan was often drunk and mean.
~Joey Damiano, Belfast, NY

There once was a set of Irish twins
Who always thought that they had to win
Threw them in the lake so that they had to swim
Soon they got out of the lake with a grin
Now they know Mom always wins!
~Diane Gent, Belfast, NY

Many years ago
Over the hills and yonder
Hands filled with potatoes
We Irish came to wander-
When the Irish came to Belfast.
~Colden Caiazza, Belfast, NY

                       They came to Belfast
Hardworkers, thats what they were
Irish immigrants from another world
They knew hard work and so they did
An excellent job in building railroads and such
Which brought trains and growth to Belfast so much.
~Marie Nix, BOFA Member, Belfast, NY

There once were hearty lads and colleens
Who braved the voyage across the sea
To settle in a community so green
They titled it Belfast, after the old country
Under St. Patrick, their parish king.
~Susan Mary Button, Wellsville, NY

A New Beginning
When the Irish came to Belfast looking to better their past
They thought this dream couldn't last.
 Wtih families of Chamberlain, Lang, and Mast,
The Irish O'Mally's, O'Reilley's, and Sullivans were aghast,
But Alas, a warm Belfast welcome was cast.
~Carol A. Fuller, Belfast, NY

There once was an Irish Festivus
Organized by some of the best of us
The music was great
We stayed up too late
Next year will be even later!
~Patty Preston, Belfast, NY

When the Irish tell a tale
Whether it be a lady or a male
They're usually imbibing ale
Sometimes in a glass, sometimes in a pail
But evoking laughter never fails!!
~Tom Joerg, Mechanicsburg, PA

There once came some Irish to Belfast
By water, rail, and road they did arrive
They proceeded to work play and thrive
Through thick and through thin they stayed alive-
And their children are still here today!
~Kathy Garrison, BOFA Member Belfast, NY

    The Irish Were Coming
Belfast was the lucky town
When Irish came here to settle down
They worked hard in construction, rails, and fields
The played hard in taverns and had a blast
Drinking and remembering much about their past.
~Marie Nix BOFA Member, Belfast, NY

When the Irish came to Belfast it was a wonderful sight
John L. Sullivan and William Muldoon taught us all
How to put up a good fight.
Years later, we remember them still with the help of our friend Scott.
Come ye, come ye to Belfast and you will learn a lot!!
~Anonymous