Old residents of Rosses Point had a saying from days of yore,
Handed down by word of mouth for a century or more.
It was applied to any man who was backward and unsure,
Who would then be labelled an old Molly come Ashore.
It started in the famine times with lovers Molly and Pat,
Who had courted for twenty years Molly had enough of that.
She said come let us marry or I shall emigrate.
Pat muttered who would have us? We have left it far too late!
So she boarded a coffin ship off Ballyweelin shore.
Feeling sad and lonely her heart was very sore,
On deck for one last look at the land she did adore,
Heard Pat's voice across the water crying Molly Come Ashore.
The ship then hove up anchor and sailed upon her way.
He stood weeping on the beach 'till she cleared Old Sligo Bay.
Most likely seasick Molly away past Raughley Head,
Out in the wild Atlantic was wishing she was dead.
When news of this sad parting far and wide had spread,
Young men from town and County rushed headlong to be wed.
One said he could not live with this name tag anymore,
He had once been called in public an old Molly Come Ashore.
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