Irish Ballads

IRISH BALLADS The Boys of Wexford Kevin Barry Roddy McCorley The West’s Awake

Valley of Knockanure (see McMahon in Pierce anthology 786)

The Boys of Wexford

Initially the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798 started with some huge and unexpected victories for the rebels. Using pikes and pitch-forks the Society of United Irishmen defeated the North Cork Militia near Oulart and the important seaport of Wexford. After Wexford the rebels suffered great losses at New Ross and several other cities. The decision to regroup on Vinegar Hill near Enniscorthy turned out fatal. The assembled were enclosed and slaughtered in a rain of artillery fire. (www.vincentpeters.nl/triskelle/lyrics/)

In comes the captain's daughter, the captain of the Yeos, Saying, "Brave United man, we'll ne'er again be foes. A thousand pounds I'll give you, and fly from home with thee And dress myself in man's attire, and fight for liberty!" We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land!

"I want no gold, my maiden fair, to fly from home with thee; Your shining eyes will be my prize - more dear then gold to me. I want no gold to nerve my arm to do a true man's part To free my land I'd gladly give the red drops from my heart." We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land!

And when we left our cabins, boys, we left with right good will, To see our friends and neighbours that were at Vinegar Hill! A young man from our ranks, a cannon he let go; He slapt it into Lord Mountjoy - a tyrant he laid low! We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land!

We bravely fought and conquered at Ross, and Wexford town; And, if we failed to keep them, 'twas drink that brought us down. We had no drink beside us on Tubberneering's day, Depending on the long bright pike, and well it worked its way! We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land! They came into the country our blood to waste and spill; But let them weep for Wexford, and think of Oulart Hill! 'Twas drink that still betrayed us - of them we had no fear; For every man could do his part like Forth and Shelmalier! We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand To burst the twain the galling chain, and free our native land!

My curse upon all drinking! It made our hearts full sore: For bravery won each battle, but drink lost ever more. And if, for want of leaders, we lost at Vinegar Hill, We're ready for another fight, and love our country still! We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land!

Kevin Barry

Early on a Sunday morning, High upon a gallows tree, Kevin Barry gave his young life for the cause of liberty. Only a lad of eighteen summers, Yet there's no one can deny, That he went to death that morning, nobly held his head up high.

"Shoot me like an Irish soldier, Do not hang me like a dog; For I fought for Ireland's freedom On that dark September morn, All around that little bakery, Where we fought them hand to hand. Shoot me like an Irish soldier, For I fought to free Ireland."

Just before he faced the hangman, In his lonely prison cell, British soldiers tortured Barry Just because he would not tell All the names of his companions Other things they wished to know; "Turn informer, and we'll free you." Proudly Barry answered, "No !"

Roddy McCorley

This traditional song refers to the hanging of Roddy McCorley on Good Friday 1799. There are a lot of uncertainties about the real Roddy McCorley, or Rodai Mac Corlai, so do not shoot us if we make a wrong turn somewhere in the story. Roddy McCorley is generally known as a Protestant man, but chances are he was in fact Catholic. His membership of the, initially non-sectarian but later, exclusively Catholic Defenders supports this somewhat dissent opinion. Probably this confusion is caused because his Protestant mother remarried a Protestant man after the death of his Catholic father. Undisputedly is the fact that Roddy McCorley's took part in the United Irishmen Rebellion in 1798, disputed however is his role in this revolt. Some assume he was just one of the masses, while others attribute a higher ranking to him. Anyway, after the revolt it was impossible for the rebels to return home and many of them formed gangs. Roddy McCorley joined the Thomas Archer's gang.

For about a year this gang of highwaymen prowled County Antrim until Roddy McCorley was betrayed. Probably a relative from his mother's side tattled his hiding place to the English. Roddy McCorley stood trial and was sentenced to death. Roddy McCorley was transported from Ballymena to Toomebridge and hung by his neck on the bridge over the River Bann, whereupon his body was dissected and buried in the Belfast to Derry road. Everybody travelling from Belfast to Derry had to walk over his body. Obviously his execution was a warning, although it is not clear whether the warning was meant to address rebels or robbers.

His remains were exhumed in 1857 and put to rest in an unmarked grave on a proper graveyard. Roddy's body might be at rest, his memory is still alive as turned out with the opening of a new bridge over the River Bann in April 2004. Sinn Féin suggested to name the bridge after Roddy McCorley and, because Roddy was a non-sectarian famous local, some Unionists supported this proposal. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) passed over this once in a lifetime opportunity to fulfil a Republican idea backed by Unionists and persisted on the neutral name Toome Bridge. Soon thereafter explosives were found near the bridge and Sinn Féin members erected signs naming the bridge after Rodai Mac Corlai.

There are several derived versions of this song, among which a version written by Ethna Carbery and recorded by The Clancy Brothers.

See the fleet foot host of men, that speed with faces wan From farmstead and from fishers cot, along the banks of Bann They come with vengeance in their eyes, too late, too late are they For young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

Up the narrow street he steps smiling, proud and young About the hemp rope on his neck, the golden ringlets clung There was never a tear in his blue eyes, both sad and bright are they For young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

When he last stepped up that street, his shining pike in hand Behind him marched in grim array, a stalwart, earnest band For Antrim town, for Antrim town, he led them to the fray And young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

There was never a one of all your dead, more bravely fell in fray Than he who marches to his fate on the bridge of Toome today True to the last, true to the last, he treads the upward way And young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

The West’s Awake

When all beside a vigil keep, The West's asleep, the West's asleep - Alas! and well may Erin weep When Connacht lies in slumber deep. There lake and plain smile fair and free, 'Mid rocks their guardian chivalry. Sing, Oh ! let man learn liberty From crashing wind and lashing sea.

That chainless wave and lovely land Freedom and nationhood demand; Be sure the great God never planned For slumb'ring slaves a home so grand. And long a brave and haughty race Honoured and sentinelled the place. Sing, Oh! not even their sons' disgrace Can quite destroy their glory's trace.

For often, in O'Connor's van, To triumph dashed each Connacht clan. And fleet as deer the Normans ran Thro' Corrsliabh Pass and Ardrahan; And later times saw deeds as brave, And glory guards Clanricard's grave, Sing, Oh! they died their land to save At Aughrim's slopes and Shannon's wave.

And if, when all a vigil keep, The West's asleep! the West's asleep! Alas! and well may Erin weep That Connacht lies in s1umber deep. But, hark! a voice like thunder spake, The West's awake! the West's awake! Sing, Oh! hurrah! let England quake, We'll watch till death for Erin's sake