Search just our sites by using our customised search engine

Unique Cottages | Electric Scotland's Classified Directory

Click here to get a Printer Friendly PageSmiley

THE RISING OF THE MOON
(air : The Wearin' o' the Green)
John Keegan Casey (Leo)

Oh! then tell me, Sean O'Farrell,
Tell me why you hurry so?
"Hush, mo bhuachaill, hush and listen,"
And his cheeks were all aglow.
"I bear orders from the Captain,
Get you ready quick and soon
For the pikes must be together
By the rising of the moon."
 
Oh! then tell me, Sean O'Farrell,
Where the gathering is to be?
"In the old spot by the river
Right well known to you and me.
One word more - for signal token,
Whistle up the marching tune,
With your pike upon your shoulder,
By the rising of the moon."
 
Out from many a mud-wall cabin
Eyes were watching through the night.
Many a manly breast was throbbing
For the  blessed warning light.
Murmers passed along the valleys
Like the Banshee's lonely croon,
And a thousand blades were flashing
At the rising of the moon.
 
There beside the signing river
That dark mass of men were seen;
Far above the shining weapons
Hung their own beloved green.
"Death to every foe and traitor!
Forward! strike the marching tune,
And hurrah, my boys, for freedom!
'Tis the rising of the moon."
 
Well they fought for poor old Ireland,
And full bitter was their fate
Oh! what glorious pride and sorrow
Fill the name of Ninety-eight!
Yet, thank God, e'en still are beating
Hearts in manhood's burning noon,
Who would follow in their footsteps
At the rising of the moon!
Footnote : An Irish song from the 1798 Rising to commemorate the Irish ancestry of The Flag's Jim Lynch and Peter D Wright who both celebrate their birthday this week - 23 October - born a few years apart and separated by the distance between Dundee and Aberdeen! Leo Casey (1846-1870) was proud of the efforts made by the United Irishmen of Longford and Westmeath in 1798. The "Singing River" is the Inny which flows into the Shannon from his native area between Mullingar and Ballymahon.He wrote many songs including "Maire My Girl" and was active in the Fenian Brotherhood. By coincidence, his birthday was 22 August, the same as General Humbert who led French troops in the 1798 Rising and the date Humbert landed at Killala in 1798. He died when he was only 23 as a result of the rigours of imprisonment. It is said that 50.000 people marched in his funeral procession in Dublin and that 150.000 more looked on. Thousands walked to Dublin from Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon to pay their respects.

Return to Sing A Sang At Least


 


This comment system requires you to be logged in through either a Disqus account or an account you already have with Google, Twitter, Facebook or Yahoo. In the event you don't have an account with any of these companies then you can create an account with Disqus. All comments are moderated so they won't display until the moderator has approved your comment.

comments powered by Disqus

Quantcast