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" A Cock Fight, A Cock Fight," it rings through the air,
   Excitement runs high through the plains of Kildare,
The Rendezvous, Punchestown race-course of fame,
    And " Sports " are all speeding to witness the game.
Though illegal by Statute to hold such a fight,
    Many people take in it the greatest delight,
By motor and cycle converge a glad throng,
    To revive the old past-time of days that are gone.
 
Head Foley, from Naas, with three men his command,
    Start their wheels for the scene that is now at " The Stand."
Sergeant Clarke on his " Rover " is joining the chase.
    And with Constable Murphy is making the pace.
By hedge and through lea land they've got to make way,
     To the spot where the  "Sports" will engage in the fray,
In a place of concealment hard by they have plann'd,
      And agreed on their tactics to cope with the band.
    
"Bedad," says the Head, " there's three hundred and more.
      "The odds are against us, for we're only four !
"Howe'er, we're determind a capture to make,
        'Success' be our motto,  'Prestige' is at stake."
He and Constable Smith make a frontal attack,
        The Sergeant and Murphy go round by the back
But when close to the gamesters, and sport seemed a-humming,
        A wily scout shouted " The Bobbies are coming."
  
Three hundred brave sportsmen are now to be seen,
        The ring dug and ready outside in the green ;
The birds "trimmed" and eager and " fit" for the fight,
        The "element" waiting the "main with delight.
Police reach the scene as the betting runs high,
         And patrons were present from far and from nigh,
Counties Monaghan, Queen's and Kildare of short grass,
          Have backers by dozens, and none wanting brass.
   
By making a seizure Smith then takes the lead.
           He captures a game cock, the purest of breed,
The crowd gets excited, and show their delight,
           When off strips their bully the bobbies to fight.
To regain the lost game cock a rush now they make,
            And tell the police that " their lives they will take,
Outnumbered they think that the " Force " cannot stand.
            But the Head cools the ardour with " Webley "in hand.
             
Clarke and Constable Murphy at once take their place,
            Each flanking the Head, with the mob face to face,
While Smith with his capture is placed in the rere,
            And appears quite undaunted with nothing to fear.
The Head gives them warning, "It's not his desire,
            But in case of compulsion upon them he'll fire"
Tradition's demanded their "Prestige" to save.
            The test is severe but they nobly behave,
 
For a very long hour the "Force" keeps at bay,
            The "Sportsmen" quite certain they'll carry the day,
But, wisdom prevailing, the fight that they show,
            Is their backs to the "Polis," for fresh fields they go,
By " Beggars's End " Cross, and then on to Rathmore,
           (A route many cockfighters traversed before ).
Their motors are speeding, no syrens they blow,
             The police they must baffle, or " down goes the show.
                
Then on to Athgarrett,  "We've fooled them at last,"
              They halt in the Glen as the as the danger is past ;
But the Head and his henchmen again did appear,
              Their coming was hailed by the crowd with a jeer.
The fight was a failure, "Law " carried the day ;
              The cocks and their oweners for home speed away,
Whilst onwards they journey, they curse and they swear.
              At the Head and his party from Naas in Kildare.
        
In September the sequel, it followed of course ;
              The Courthouse was crowded with  "Sports"and " The Force,"
Messieurs Blayney and Lamphier, great limbs of the Law.
               Closely test the " Crown " theory in search of a flaw,
The Bench, in their verdict, were rather severe,
               The Defendants were bound to the peace for a year ;
Now, gamesters take warning, cockfighters beware,
                Steer clear of policemen from County Kildare.
     
Celbridge.                                                                    J.M.
                    
Ref : R.I.C. Mag January, 1913, page's 99-100.