School: Tang (roll number 8037)

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1. Local Songs - Richard Bertles (continued)

   

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   (4)

   He fought for Irelands freedom in many a bitter fight,

   Against Ireland's foes and traitors it was always Dicks delight,

   And now shot down in his manhood by the Free State murder corps,

   He was proud to die for Ireland in Low Street Ballymore.

   (Joseph Farrell)

   
   N.B.

   This song was composed by Joseph Farrell, after a local young Commandant of the I.R.A. was foully done to death by Free State troops, in Cunningham's public-house in Ballymore. The story goes that Bertles went to "Nicky" Cunninghams to pay some bills incurred by the "Flying Column". While there a cycling column of Free State troops paid a surprise visit to the village of Ballymore and acting possibly, on information, proceeded to the lower end of the town to Mr. Nicholas Cunningham's licensed premises. As Bertles stood at the Bar, he was shot by a Sergeant Riggs who was probably an ex- British soldier. The composer of the song is a farmer at Ardnagrath Drumraney and was himself a member of I.R.A.

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Mary Moran

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Clonkeen, Co. Westmeath

   Informant

   John Moran

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Clonkeen, Co. Westmeath