List of Irish Ballads - Politics and Soldiering - 18th Century - 1798 Rebellion

1798 Rebellion

Songs relating to the Irish Rebellion of 1798 (though not necessarily contemporary):

• "Bagenal Harvey's Farewell (Bagenal Harvey's Lament)" - song about rebel leader Bagenal Harvey
• "Ballyshannon Lane" - about a battle between rebels and Hessians in 1798 in Wexford, written by Michael O'Brien, about 1896
• "Billy Byrne of Ballymanus" - about one of the leaders of the rebellion
• "Boolavogue" - song about Father John Murphy, one of the leaders of the Wexford rebels, written by P.J. McCall (1861–1919) for the centenary anniversary in 1898
• "Boys of '98" - modern song written by New York band Shillelagh Law
• "The Boys of Wexford" - written by P.J. McCall
• "By Memory Inspired" - a tributary role-call of many of the rebel heroes who died in the rebellion, anonymous, recorded by Frank Harte
• "Come All You Warriors (Father Murphy) - song written close to the time of the rebellion upon which later songs such as Boolavogue were based.
• "The Croppy Boy" - There are at least two songs by this name: "It was early, early in the spring..." and "Good men and true in this house...". They are concerned with the period following the suppression of the rebellion and how the climate of repression saw relatives and close family deny any links to condemned rebels for fear of being deemed guilty by association.
• "Croppies Lie Down" - a Unionist or Orangeman's perspective on the rebels triumphant defeat.
• "Dunlavin Green" - a local ballad written in response to the Massacre of Dunlavin Green which occurred on May 24, 1798
• "General Munroe", "Henry Munroe", "General Munroe's Lamentation" and "Henry Joy" - all songs about the United Irish leader Henry Joy McCracken.
• "The Heroes of '98" - patriotic song by Bruce Scott.
• "Irish Soldier Laddie" - modern song about the events of 1798, written by Paddy McGuigan of the Barleycorn
• "Jimmy Murphy" - song of music hall origin with distinctly unusual chorus
• "Kelly of Killanne" - ballad by P.J. McCall (1861–1919), recounting the exploits of John Kelly, one of the most popular leader of the Wexford rebels.
• "The Liberty Tree" - anonymous United Irishmen ballad in praise of the French Revolution.
• "The Man from God Knows Where" - poem by Florence Wilson (set to music by Tom Hickland of Five Hand Reel) about Thomas Russell, leader of the United Irishmen in Ulster, executed in Downpatrick in 1803
• "The Memory of the Dead" - ballad recalling the rebellion's heroes by John Kells Ingram.
• "The Minstrel Boy" - in remembrance of a number of friends of Thomas Moore who lost their lives in the rebellion.
• "The Rambler from Clare"
• "The Rising of the Moon" - written by John Keegan Casey in the 1860s, this ballad invokes the hope and optimism surrounding the outbreak of the Irish rebellion of 1798.
• "Roddy McCorley" - ballad by Ethna Carbery lamenting the execution of the young Antrim Presbyterian rebel, Roddy McCorley.
• "The Sean-Bhean bhocht" - the "Poor old woman," i.e. Ireland, is about to be liberated in tandem with the French. Also known as "The French are on the Sea"
• "Sliabh na mBan" - an Irish-language song composed by Michéal O Longáin of Carrignavar and translated by Seamus Ennis, about the massacre in July 1798 of a party of Tipperary insurgents at Carrigmoclear on the slopes of Slievenamon
• "Tone's Grave" - lament for Wolfe Tone, United Irish leader, the ballad is more commonly known as "Bodenstown Churchyard". Written by Thomas Davis, one of the leaders of Young Ireland movement.
• "The Wake of William Orr"
• "The Wearing of the Green" - song about repression after the rebellion.
• "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" - a young man's remorse at leaving his lady love to join the United Irishmen is cut short when she is killed by an English bullet (Roud Index 2994). Written by Robert Dwyer Joyce (1836–1883).