The Re-Publicans

“What do be in the papers these days concerning Ireland?” asked Michael Madigan. “I’ve not been hearin’ lately what’s happenin’ to them Spanish bull- fighters an’ others that did be causin’ throuble in the Ould Dart.”

His friend searched the paper
through.

“There do be little here,” he said,
“except the ructions wid the politicians
in owsthralla. But there be a little bit
that says the re-publicans have got
Cork.”

“And for why shouldn’t they?” asked
Madigan. “Publicans I have heard of,
an’ there was lashins iv them in Cork
in the ould days. An’ who shud be
wantin’ Cork if it isn’t publicans? But
thim re-publicans—I do be misdoubtin’
the name.”

“Maybe,” said his friend, “they were
the publicans who were driv out of
Cork be the English whin the row
started.”

“Let thim come back,” answered
Michael Madigan. “Let thim come
back, for publican or re-publican shure
wouldn’t they be entitled to Cork? ’Tis
a joke I’m makin’, but ’tis the sad man
I am, for ’tis a hard thing these days
for an Irishman to understand Ireland.
Rade me somethin’ about that beauty
competition to aise me mind.”