SOMETHING A LITTLE SPECIAL! WHO FEARS TO SPEAK OF 98? I have a special interest in what happened in the years after 98. Historical records are sparse in that regard. And this is reflected in this poem from 80 years later! This is a poem written by John Redmond MP in his own hand and never published in the last 135 years to my knowledge. But it is so important to show the patriotic nationalist side of JER that is often overlooked in the context of Home Rule and the way that WW1 changed his vision. These are the words: VINEGAR HILL I stood on the spot where my forefathers died High over the sturdy old town Near the silvery stretch of the Slaney’s tide To the ocean wandering down. I stood on the gallant old hill and I thought How each sod marks a hero’s grave And I mused on the glorious fight they fought And mourned for the martyred brave And a voice from the river spake unto me They died not in vain who fought to be free. And I mused on the past in a magical cloud The present just faded away Bold rebels stood round me and claimed me aloud A brother to join in the fray. I felt my heart leap as I grasped each strong hand And we swore by the great God on high To stand by the Green Flag now raised in the land To conquer or bravely to die. And cheering the voice from the river came The patriots’ need is endless fame. But why did I dream? O’er the hills’ frowning crest The ensign of slavery flies Ah! happy the dead, with their scars on the breast It seres not their death-sealed eyes! Oh! sacred the ground where the patriots sleep And honoured each nameless grave High over the town on the hills rugged steep By the splash of fair Slaney’s wave! And proudly the voice from the river spake Honour the martyrs for liberty’s sake. JOHN E REDMOND 27th SEPTEMBER 1879
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:37:13 +0000
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