Paul F. McCann

School In The Troubles

We walked to school each morning, frightened of guns on the street.
But no one said a word; it was a sign of being weak.
St Gabriels Secondary intermediate school:
Hard men and boys – cool customers as a general rule.

At St Gabes we stood up tall and answered “Here” at roll call,
Happy to be present to do our best for one and all.
We lived through the unpleasant years with bomb blasts in our ears.
God knows how much we had to put up with: the ears, the fears.

The news each day was all the same: a list of names to add.
The daily roll call was shorter .Not here sir it was sad.
A prayer for those absent friends was said,
As their names were read.

We were missing a few players in the football we played.
We sung Faith of our fathers and rung the bells on Sunday.
And prayed our friends would be at school the following Monday.
Going to school in the troubles from Ardoyne to the gate,
Was a walk that you could very easily get to hate.

But with God’s help we did it,
We went to school and shut out the rattle and hum,
the beat of the drum, the screams and shout.
Saint Gabriel’s the school playground is quiet now at last
and the way of life has changed in the streets around Belfast –

With reconciliation, we hope peace will never end.
St Gabriels my old school – you will always be a friend.
The roll book is closed now but memories never die,
from each side of the Crumlin Road we’ve come to say goodbye.

On the ball, up the wall, walk or crawl, Success for us all.
Goodbye, my school is no more and they’ve closed over the door –
Now a new day has dawned and the message of peace is strong.
The future generation can live and peace will live.

Thank God for all of those the teachers who made it all worthwhile
leaving St Gabriels, and we were doing it in style.
Whenever we look back, I hope it can make some sense;
St Gabriels life with you was a rich experience.

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