(THE) SASH/KEVIN BARRY

THE SASH / KEVIN BARRY

Matt McGinn

On Mountjoy one Monday morning

High upon the gallows tree

Kevin Barry gave his young life for

The cause of liberty

Just a lad of eighteen summers

And yet no one can deny

As he walked to death that morning

He proudly held his head on high

Another martyr for old Ireland

Another murder for the crown

British guns may shoot the Irish but

Their courage cannot drown

Just before he faced the hangman

In his lonely prison cell

British soldiers tortured Barry

Just because he would not tell

The names of all his brave companions

Other things they wished to know

‘Turn informer and we’ll free you’

But Kevin proudly answered, ‘No’

‘Shoot me like a soldier

Do not hang me like a dog

For I fought to free old Ireland

In that cruel September fog’

‘All around that little bakery

We fought from morn till e’en

For the unity of Ireland

Neath the orange, white and green’

Another martyr for old Ireland

Another murder for the crown

British guns may shoot the Irish but

Their courage cannot drown