Which of these famous Irish Rebel Songs do you know?
By Pádraig Mac Aodhgáin, UCC School of Music
You’ve heard of the following Irish rebel songs connected to 1916 and the War of Independence:
The Valley of Knockanure
Seán Ó Sé can be heard singing this song
Óró Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile
You might have been taught this one in school.
Foggy Dew
This song was made especially famous by The Chieftains and Sinéad Ó Connor. Learn more about the history of the Foggy Dew here.
Down By The Glenside
Also known as The Bold Fenian Men, this song was composed by the same man who wrote Ireland’s national anthem, Peadar Kearney.
But what about these lesser known songs?
My Only Son Was Shot in Dublin
Also known as The Dying Rebel, this version is by Patsy Watchorn who was a singer with The Dublin City Ramblers and later The Dubliners.
They Wounded Old Ireland
Sung by Andy Stewart, this beautiful song refers to 1916 but also the more recent troubles in Northern Ireland.
James Connolly
This haunting air is sung by the famed Sean Nós singer from Connemara, Nan Tom Teamín
The Gunner McGee
This famous song comes from Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners.
Patrick Egan is a PhD candidate at UCC, studying the Seán Ó Riada digital arts and humanities collection. View his latest blog post at Outreach Ethnomusicology.
