Kelly the Boy from Killane - Luke Kelly

What’s the news, what’s the news, O me bold Shelmalier

With your long barrel guns from the sea?

Say, what wind from the south brings a messenger here

With this hymn of the dawn for the free?

Goodly news, goodly news do I bring youth of Forth

Goodly news shall I hear Bargy man.

For the boys march at morn from the south to the north

Led by Kelly, the boy from Killane.

Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair

He who rides at the head of your band.

Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare

And he looks like a king in command.

O me boys that’s the pride of the bold Shelmalier

'Mongst our greatest of heroes a man

Fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers

For John Kelly, the boy from Killane.

Enniscorthy is in flames and old Wexford is won

And tomorrow the barrow will cross

On the hill o’er the town we have planted a gun

That will batter the gateway to Ross.

All the Forth men and Bargy men will march o’er the heath

With brave Harvey to lead in the van

But the foremost of all in the grim gap of death

Will be Kelly, the boy from Killane.

But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross

And it set by the Slaney’s red wave…

And poor Wexford stripped naked hung high on a cross

With her heart pierced by traitors and knaves.

Glory-o, Glory-o to her brave men who died

For the cause of long down-trodden man.

Glory-o to Mount-Leinster's own darling and pride

Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killane.