Kelly The Boy From Killane Lyrics

Makem & Clancy

Music Video

Kelly The Boy From Killane

What'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

🎶 Songwriter: Patrick Joseph McCall (1861–1919).

📝 Song 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.

📖 Glossary:

Killane
A rural crossroads settlement about 12 miles (20 km) west of Enniscorthy in County Wexford.
Shelmalier
An area in County Wexford, traditionally associated with skilled marksmen during the 1798 Rebellion.
Forth and Bargy
A historic barony — a local administrative subdivision — in County Wexford.
Enniscorthy
The second‑largest town in County Wexford, known for its central role in the 1798 Rising.
Barrow
A major river forming natural borders between parts of Kilkenny, Carlow, and Wexford. It is one of the “Three Sisters” rivers, along with the Suir and the Nore, and is the longest of the three.
Ross
A town in southwest County Wexford on the River Barrow, notable for the Battle of New Ross in 1798.
Slaney
A large river flowing through counties Wicklow, Carlow, and Wexford, central to several events of the 1798 Rebellion.
Mount Leinster
A high mountain on the border of counties Carlow and Wexford in the province of Leinster.

🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song

👥 Covers: 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.

🎤 Featured Artists: Makem & Clancy

💿 Album: The Rising of the Moon: Irish Songs of Rebellion
Released: 2007
Country: US
Format: CD
Label: Essential Media Group

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