Michael Kearns - Sligo Poets

Sligo Nationalist 16 October 1915
Man Who Raised the ‘Old Green Flag.’

  John Joseph Cunningham (3609) belonged to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. He was formerly a member of the London Police. He went out with the Guards as a private, but in recognition of his valour on the occasion of the unfurling of the ‘Old Green Flag’ he was promoted King’s Corporal. He was wounded on this occasion and returned home but again went off to the front.
  He again figured in another incident some time later. This was when he captured a German spy wearing the uniform of a French soldier.
  The spy was shot at dawn.
  Corporal Cunningham was promoted to the rank of sergeant for this successful exploit.
  Born in Sligo, the hero of this story spent his earlier years in County Wicklow, where his father (Mr James Cunningham) now harbour constable in Dublin, was then stationed. His father’s present address is 7, Muckross Parade, North Circular road, Dublin.
  Sergeant Cunningham was wounded a second time, and is now in St Omer Hospital suffering from gun shots in the leg.
  Mr M J Kearns, a local poet, residing at Geevagh, County Sligo, has written the following lines in praise of his friend and countryman and the famous Irish Guards:

"The first to meet the darling foe
  Were Irish Guardsmen true,
Their blood soon dyed the verdant fields
  Of France, and Belgium too.

They fought at Mons and Marne
  Old Belgium to set free,
’Twas there O’Leary beat the Huns
  And won the great V.C.

Another of the fighting race,
  A hero of renown,
Was gallant brave young Cunningham
  From dear old Sligo town.

’Twas he who raised the “Old Green Flag”
  That stopped the prowling Hun,
When English troops were falling fast
  ’Twas Erin’s flag that won.

I’m proud that he’s a Sligo man,
  A youth of slender age;
His name and fame, and glory too,
  Should shine in History’s page.

Sligo Champion 10 July 1915
      The Old Green Flag

In pleasing song I love to hear
  Of brave undaunted men
Who fought for Faith and Freedom too
  O’er hillside, vale, and glen;
In ages past our Irish boys
  (Of every land the pride)
Gave up their lives for Freedom’s cause,
  For Faith and Freedom died.

Old Erin’s sons are fighting now
  On Belgium’s gory plain,
Where heroes died there side by side
  Their Freedom to retain:
The first to meet the daring foe
  Were Irish Guardsmen true,
Their blood soon died the verdant fields
  Of France and Belgium too.

They fought at Mons and Marne
  Old Belgium to set free,
’Twas there O’Leary beat the Huns
  And won the great V.C.
Another of the fighting race,
  A hero of renown,
Was gallant brave young Cunningham
  From dear old Sligo town.

’Twas he who raised "the Old Green Flag"
  That stopped the prowling Hun,
When English troops were falling fast
  ’Twas Erin’s flag that won,
I’m proud he is a Sligo man,
  A youth of tender age,
His name and fame and glory too
  Will shine in history’s page.

And when he is returning
  To his home of long ago
The genial Mayor of Sligo town
  Will honour him I know.
Yes, Mayor Jinks is always ready,
  In civic chain and gown,
To welcome men like Cunningham
  To dear old Sligo town.
                        M. J. KEARNS.
Geevagh