Republished by Rosscarbery & District Historical Society.

From Rosscarbery Past & Present Vol.2 December 2000.

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Reenascreena Cross

There’s a dear old spot I cherish

Where the Argideen River flows

Never shall my memory perish

“Till my hearth’s blood reach its close.”

Tis the little spot of greeting

Where the children have their fun

Where they play their five and twenty

And their game of pitch and toss.

“Tis a dear old place of peace and plenty

We call it Reenascreena Cross.

- 

Carrigfadda lies behind it

To the south lies dear old Froe

You cannot fail to find it

It’s on the public road.

The old Cross-holds some attraction

For the young and for the old

There you’ll always find a faction

Be the evening hot or cold

And you’ll find no crowd so merry

From Cork city down to Ross

Or within the bounds o Kerry

As you’ll find around the Cross

- 

While the football is repairing

We’ll throw a little score

Down the road the bowls go rearing

And strike the garage door

A few shillings may be parted

But they’ll never mind the loss

For they always are light-hearted

Those boys around the Cross

-

Times are changing as the years roll onward

Every year brings something new

Good men have gone on before us

We must do our duty too

So let us help our next-door neighbour

If he needs a little “cabhair”

We will never mind the labour

God will do twice as much to restore

That’s the secret of our counsel

That’s the way to have a good record

Let us keep it at the cross.