The Streets Of Ardoyne

The Streets Of Ardoyne

By Paul McCann

 

I walked around Ardoyne

for just a little while ,

everywhere I went

people had a friendly smile .

 

I stepped inside the Crumlin Star

out of the rain

and had a drink until the sun came out again.

 

There were taxis out the front

if you needed lifts ,

there were hard men on the street ,

handy with their fists .

Chimneys were making smoke

for the birds in the sky ,

the birds sat on the rooftops

too tired to fly .

 

Children were busy playing

and having a laugh ,

dogs were chasing cars

and barking up someone’s path .

 

Between the Mills and houses

was a corner store ,

they knew what you wanted

as you walked in the door.

 

The man in the off license had

to work at night ,

he’d put one in a bag

 to keep it out of sight .

 

Around the streets of Ardoyne ,

people waved at me ,

most people you’d see around

were very friendly .

 

It made you forget

about the hard times we had ,

there was an understanding

life wasn’t that bad.

 

The streets of Ardoyne

were all made with hard concrete ,

but most of the time

 it felt easy on your feet .

 

As you walked around ,

there were many things to see ,

in the place were we lived we were one family .

 

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