Featured Song

Something new! I will be posting a feature tune every now and then, just to keep the site from withering. I've been working on, writing and rewriting the following balladesque song for more than 5 years, all the while learning about the fascinating history of Ireland. It never felt finished because that history kept unrolling. Finally, with a new drum and bass line, and being at point where a very short truce was agreed upon, this seemed like a great place to stop.

So, appropriate for March, here is the story of how the English landed on the Emerald Isle: The New Irish...

The New Irish

by David Pryor-Trent

Verse 1
The Norsemen in their longboats
sailed up the river Lee
And came upon the holy church
of St. Finnbarre.

Centuries of sacking
gave way eventually
When they took up Gaelic lasses
and made red haired progeny.

Chorus 1:

Fireflies dancing an Irish hey

Lit up the marsh of Cork

Vikings circled the Druids
On the spit of the river's fork.

Daimont Mac Murchada
ruled the land near Cork.
Abducted dear Derbforgaill,
The wife of his rival O'Rourke

Fourteen years he seethed,

But revenge sweet would be

When he chased the King of Leinster

Across the Celtic Sea

Chorus 2:
Fireflies dancing an Irish hey
Lit up the marsh of Cork
Mac Murchada
Was chased away from the spit of the river's fork.

Mac besought the English king
when he fled to Aquitaine.
For fighting men and ships of war
For his crown to regain.
In return for these he would swear his liege to Henry Plantagenet.
And set in play that rueful day the Irish would long regret.

He recruited all the archers and any restless Knight

Who would join him for the promise

of the spoils of a good fight.
In two years' time
His army was almost complete…

Chorus 3

Fireflies dancing an Irish hey

Lit up the town of Cork.

Mac Murchada

Was on his way

back to the river's fork.

Richard de Clare of the South of Wales
Had a legion at his command.
To the Norman Lord Mac would offer up
His eldest daughter's hand.
So the Leinster crown would pass on down
Should his plan prevail.
And de Clare declared that for Aoife fair
His army would set sail!

Repeat Chorus 3

One One Sixty-Nine
The first Normans burst ashore
From Wexford up to Ossory,
They took Leinster and more.
The Irish King Ua Conchobair opposed with all his might.
So Mac and he did agree to halt this dreadful fight.

We were borne from Marchers of Wales
Our fathers conquered the Vikings and Gaels
We took on their ways and their Brehon Law
Now we're despised by any and all.

Now

We're more Irish

We're more Irish

We're more Irish

Than the Irish themselves.

Repeat verse 1