Come all you true bred Irishmen I hope you will draw near,
And likewise pay attention to those few lines I have here,
It is as true a story a ever you did here,
Of how Donnelly fought Cooper on the Curragh of Kildare.
It was on the third of June, brave boys, the challenge was sent o’er,
From Britannia to old Grania for to raise her son once more
To renew the satisfaction and the credit to record,
They are all in deep distraction since Daniel conquered all.
Old Grania read the challenge and received it with a smile,
‘You’d better haste unto Kildare my well-beloved child,
It is there you’d reign victorious as you often did before;
And your deeds will sine most glorious around sweet Erin’s shore.’
The challenge was accepted and those heroes did prepare
To meet brave Captain Kelly on the Curragh of Kildare,
Those Englishmen bet ten to one on each other’s blood to spill,
From six to nine they parried that time till Donnelly knocked him down
Here Grania smiled, ‘Well done my child, that is ten thousand pounds.’
The second round that Cooper fought he knocked down Donnelly
And Dan likewise being of true game, he rose most furiously,
Right active then was Cooper he knocked Donnelly down again,
Those Englishmen they gave three cheers saying ‘ The battle is all in vain.’
Long life to Miss Kelly ‘tis recorded on the plain,
She boldly stepped into the ring saying, ‘Dan, what do you mean?’
‘Well done,’ says she, ‘brave Donnelly, my Irish boy,’ said she
‘My whole estate I have laid out on you, brave Donnelly.’
The Donnelly rose up again and meeting with great might,
For to stagnate those nobles all, he continued on the fight.
Tho’ Cooper stood in his own defence exertion proved in vain,
For he soon received a temple blow that hurled him o’er the rails.
You sons of proud Britannia, your boasting now recall,
Since Cooper by Dan Donnelly has met his sad downfall,
In eleven rounds he got nine knock-downs likewise a broke jaw-bone,
‘Shake hands,’ said she, ‘brave Donnelly, the battle is all our own.