TRIBUTE TO LARRY STANLEY

LEINSTER LEADER 10 OCTOBER 1987

Tribute of 1984 to the late Larry Stanley

The poem below was written as a tribute to Mr. Larry Stanley by Harry Price in 1984 after he had been asked to write a work that could be performed on stage.

The work, entitled “Play the Ball” was to be performed by a thirteen year old boy dressed in the colours of the Lily Whites, while a tall man stood silent alongside the tricolour.  The tribute was aimed at encouraging the young to play football, the game by which the late Larry Stanley won two All-Ireland medals, one with Kildare, the other with Dublin, the city in which he died last month. 

 

Now I am just a boy,

That likes sporting ways,

Even those of other days,

When I look at the crowd,

I speak out loud,

Of a Blacktrench man

From the Co.Kildare.

 

He stood to attention

Of this I must mention,

In my childhood mind,

Even so blind I could see,

In the park so bright,

Larry Stanley the great,

Standing there with faith.

 

The title to a cycle 1984

Lead me in your ways,

Stand to attention Please,

For the love of the game,

GAA the name,

Brought you honour and fame,

Larry Stanley yet again,

Is the man’s name.

 

Pairc an Chrocaigh inspired,

Memories in the wind,

Lead me to this man,

That I may shake his hand,

1919 on Kildare people’s tongues,

O how the crowd sung

The Curragh of Kildare,

A Nation once again,

An all-Ireland in his hand.

 

Built with all that is strong,

You jumped 23 ft. long,

1924 was the year,

That 6 ft. 3 ^1/8  ins. you cleared,

O what fame you claimed,

In the next football game,

Another All-Ireland medal

With the Metro Dublin team.

 

And now to the end,

In this poem I send,

In a Gaelic tradition,

Of spot and ambition,

So cool was your mission,

As to play the ball.

Re-typed by Mary Murphy