The Rising of 1798 was a heady rebellion in Ireland that created a framework for Irish Republicanism and the wars that followed. Founded by protestants in Belfast, the Republican United Irishmen sought to remove sectarianism from Irish society. They elicited help from Napoleon who sent ships and troops but they arrived on the west coast […]
This poem comments upon the Irishmen who left their native land to fight in foreign wars. It is a sad fact that many Irish nationals have died in overseas conflict while their own nation lay in the chains of bondage. The Battle Eve of the Brigade The mess-tent is full, and the glasses are set, […]
This poem by Davis deals with the Penal Laws which further institutionalized sectarianism across colonial Ireland. In the Occupied Six Counties today, the psychology of many Unionists would indicate that the Penal Days have not gone for at least some. The Penal Days Oh! weep those days, the penal days, When Ireland hopelessly complained. Oh! […]
Here is yet another rebel poem from the father of Irish Republican poetry, Corkman, Thomas Davis. The Vow of Tipperary From Carrick streets to Shannon shore, From Slievenamon to Ballindeary, From Longford Pass to Gaillte Mór, Come hear The Vow of Tipperary. Too long we fought for Britain’s cause, And of our blood were never […]
Thomas Davis was from Mallow in County Cork. He was an Irish Republican of the protestant faith. He wrote many patriotic songs and poems that are still popular today more than 170 years after his death from TB. He was aged just 30. Nationality I. A Nation’s voice, a nation’s voice– It is a solemn […]
Thomas Davis was an Irish Republican of the 19th century. He is widely regarded as the Bard of Republicanism. My Land She is a rich and rare land; Oh! she’s a fresh and fair land; She is a dear and rare land This native land of mine. No men than her’s are braver- Her women’s […]
This is yet another stirring piece of verse from the poet laureate of Irish Republicanism, Thomas Davis. In this poem, Davis laments the falling of Irish martyrs in battle, and looks hopefully to the day when the servants of Irish freedom will eventually triumph over their colonial oppressors. Remember that such writings could have seen […]
Tone’s Grave In Bodenstown Churchyard there is a green grave, And wildly along it the winter winds rave; Small shelter, I ween, are the ruined walls there, When the storm sweeps down on the plains of Kildare. Once I lay on that sod-it lies over Wolfe Tone- And thought how he perished in prison alone, […]
This ballad is about the Irish rebel, Robert Emmet who launched a failed uprising in 1803. Emmet was a protestant Republican who succeeded in getting the support of Napoleon for the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798. It was too little, too late. Robert Emmet was hung and then beheaded on 20th September, 1803. Confusion still […]
This rebel ballad is about the Irish revolutionaries of 1798, who set aside religious differences to stand side by side against the colonialism of England, in Ireland. The song makes references to the Battle of Ballynahinch in which the United Irishmen engaged with the British forces. The rebel army in the area was composed mostly […]
In this piece of inspired verse, Thomas Davis calls to all those born on the island of Ireland to stand together as Irish people, in opposition to the yoke of English colonialism. He believed that the Irish identity did not depend on bloodlines but on feelings of the heart. His hope was that those of […]
In 1798, as Irish patriots fought the colonial forces of Britain, General Jean Joseph Amable Humbert, sailed to the west coast of Ireland to assist the Irish in their bid for national freedom. Sadly, the Napoleonic troops arrived too late, as the United Irishmen’s rebellion had already been effectively subdued by this stage. The Republican forces […]
Rebel Voice 