Micheal Patrick Donlan was head of the Fenian's
In Ireland religious freedom not free to everyone
The Fenian's believed in religious freedom
It was a fight that would not be easily won
Portions of the Irish Government thought otherwise
Having such thoughts this day in 1866 not wise
A price was put on his head dead or alive ostrazied
Friends found him safe passage to the new world
On the boat he carried a Catholic and Protestant Bible
For reading both of them some thought him unstable
Upon departure both Bibles were tossed in the sea
For he read them both in their entirety
In America religions could live in harmony
The boat landed in New York beneath statue of liberty
One day Micheal Patrick left his family traveled south to Kentucky
A hurricane and so much disaster did Great Grandpa see
This was not where he would raise his family
Grandma was living near Niagara Falls Staten Island Ferry
About to board and explosion scared to death she ran to flee
They heard about a land near San Francisco bay
Loaded up the twins and they were on their way
But they were not settled in California to stay
One day loaded up again and headed to Washington
Maybe he found the weather unlike Ireland too much sun
One of the twins my Grandfather like Jesus a Carpenter
Homesteaded in Issaquah a new home as it were
Father Emanuel Domanez,in Donlan home celebrated the first Catholic Mass
Grandpa helped build St Joseph Church donating lumber from Donlan mill
When he died left money an land to build Mormon Church in his will
A man of strong beliefs was my Great Grandpa in son did instill
As I survey Micheal Donlan legacy I find myself proudly in awe
For he was a man who stood up to his beliefs, Great Grandpa