THE IRISH TOY SOLDIER MUSEUM
"PROFESSORS OF PERFECTION"

They have a wee museum near the centre of the Belfast town
To see their model soldiers, folk come from miles around
Sam Lindsay does the painting - Sam Watson is his pard
And if you're short of ready cash, they'll even take your Visa card

You can talk about your Britain's, Frontline and all
You can talk about the "Kilties" that are painted by Ducal
But of all the other companies trying out their hand
The made-in-Belfast models are the best in all the land

Their Irish Guards are special with backs as straight as rods
Their Irish Regiments Band is like something from the Gods!
Those boys from Ballymena are equipped with drums + flutes
And Sam has even painted in the laces of their boots!

Aunt Jane came through the door one day and skellied round the shop
"Ah doubt theirs something wrong" says she, as she tossed them each a bap
"With all these guards and pipers - yez are getting' in a rut
It's time yez painted up a set of Slalterys Mounted Fut"

When the Queen was last in Belfast, she made it her first stop
She dandered up though Smithfield and she landed in the shop
Sez she to Sammy Lindsay, "Them guards o'yours look grand"
"Ach houl yer tongue" said Sammy "thems the best in all the land"

You may talk about your shipyards, ropeworks and all
And the time when Ulster linen used to hold the world in thrall
But there's a little enterprise where Belfast is still on top
And that's the classy models in the Irish Soldier Shop

And even in America they know Sam Lindsay's fame
And collectors flock to all the shows at the mention of his name
"Correct in every detail" is Lindsay's stock-in-trade
And there not another modeller can match his painting grade

If collecting model soldiers is what makes your world go round
Take a dander up to Smithfield and have a look around
When you see those colour parties, theirs banners bright unfurled
You're looking at the premier model soldiers in all the world

And now my story's ended and I'm going down the stairs
To set my Irish Soldiers up in singles and in pairs
If I need a standard bearer to march before the band
I know where I can get one that's still the best in all the land

So collectors raise your glasses and toast the Belfast boys
Who continue painting miracles with neither fuss nor noise
Old Bushsmills the only nectar that matches them for fame
These "professors of perfection" in the model soldier game

Written by

John Speers
Mountainside
New Jersey
USA

(After he had seen Irish Toy Soldiers at the Hackensack Toy Soldier Show
3rd November 2002)