Kelly The Boy From Killane lyrics
Makem & ClancyWhat's the news, what's the news oh my bold Shelmalier
With your long barrelled guns from the sea
Say what wind from the south brings a messenger here
With the hymn of the dawn for the free
Goodly news, goodly news do I bring youth of Forth
Goodly news shall you hear Bargy man
For the boys march at dawn from the south to the north
Led by Kelly the boy from Killane
Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair
He who rides at the head of your band
Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare
And he looks like a king in command
Ah my boys that's the pride of the bold Shelmaliers
'Mongst the greatest of hero's a man
Fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers
For John Kelly the boy from Killane
Enniscorthy's in flames and old Wexford is won
And the Barrow tomorrow we will cross
On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateway to Ross
All the Forth men and Bargy men will march o'er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead in the van
But the foremost of all in the grim gap of death
Will be Kelly the boy from Killane
But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
And it set by the Slaney's red waves
And poor Wexford stripped naked, hung high on a cross
With her heart pierced by traitors and slaves
Glory-o, glory-o to her brave sons who died
For the cause of long down trodden man
Glory-o to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride
Dauntless Kelly the boy from Killane
Song Details
Writer: Patrick Joseph McCall (1861–1919).
Brief: The story of John Kelly from Killane, a United Irish leader who fought in the Irish Rebellion Of 1798. After a long battle, Kelly was wounded and moved to Wexford to recuperate. Subsequently, the town of Wexford fell to the British and Kelly was tried and sentenced to death by hanging on the 25th June, 1798. His body was then de-capitated and thrown into the River Slaney while his head was kicked through the streets before being set on a spike for all to see.
References:
Killane - rural Irish crossroads settlement situated roughly 12 miles (20 km) west of Enniscorthy, County Wexford
Shelmalier - an area in County Wexford, Ireland
Forth, Bargy - barony or sub-division in County Wexford, Ireland.
Enniscorthy - the second-largest town in County Wexford, Ireland.
Barrow - a river that forms a natural border between parts of counties Kilkenny, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford. It is one of The Three Sisters - the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore with The Barrow the longest of the three.
Ross - a town in southwest County Wexford, Ireland on the Barrow river.
Slaney - a large river that flows through counties Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford.
Mount Leinster - high mountain in the Republic of Ireland. It straddles the border between Counties Carlow and Wexford, in the province of Leinster.
Category: Irish Folk
Covers: Makem & Clancy (featured), Luke Kelly, The Dubliners, The Irish Ramblers, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Jackie O'Brien, Brian Roebuck, Blackaver to stop freezingthorn, Paddy Murphy, Johnny Denegan, The Davitts, The Makem Brothers, Joe Lynch, Brigid Corey...
Albums: Easter 1916 Collection - The Finest Irish Rebel Songs. Other albums include: The Wind That Shakes the Barley * Irish Songs Of Freedom, Live at Carnegie Hall - November 3, 1962 * The Road to Irish Freedom - A Collection of Irish Rebel Songs Vol. 2 * Ireland's Greatest Rebel Ballads.
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