ED
For a simple little pigeon that’s a pretty big ask
ED
I know this all sounds a tiny bit barmy
But he invaded France with the Allied Army
And with coded information about how far they’d got
He flew back to Britain as quick as a shot
BARNEY
Dodging bullets and hawks old Paddy was nifty
Flying two hundred and thirty miles in just four hours fifty
This was the fastest time ever recorded
And for his brave efforts the pigeon was rewarded
BARNEY
ED
He only knew one thing – and that was the way
home
BOTH
Cooooo! Cooooo!
BARNEY
I know getting a medal is very cool indeed
BOTH
Cooooo! Cooooo!
BARNEY
But wouldn’t he have preferred like, a sack of bird
seed?
Cooooo! Cooooo!
BOTH
Paddy the Pigeon!
Cooooo! Cooooo! Cooooo!
ED
Way back in nineteen forty four
At the height of the fighting of the Second World War
Pigeon’s considered the right disposition
Were trained to carry out top secret missions
BARNEY
Why? ‘Cos these clever birds had shown
Wherever you released them they could find their
way home
And Paddy from Carnlough was one of the best
And so the Royal Air Force put him to the test
BARNEY
Cooooo! Cooooo!
ED
Trained here by his owner for a war-time task
BARNEY
Cooooo! Cooooo!
ED
He flew so fearlessly o’er land and sea
BARNEY
Cooooo! Cooooo!
ED
He got the Dickin Medal for gallantry
ED
Here to Carnlough Paddy retired
And in nineteen fifty four he sadly expired
His marvellous achievements continue to be hailed
As recently this memorial plaque was unveiled
BARNEY (SPOKEN)
Looks nothing like me.
BOTH
Cooooo! Cooooo!
ED
The bravest pigeon Northern Ireland’s ever known
BOTH
Cooooo! Cooooo!
copyright 2012
bbc.co.uk/cbbc