A regular feature on traditional songs of County Wexford. This week: The Rise of Wexford Volunteers

Many of the songs rendered by Volunteers in the run up to the 1916 Rising in Wexford were marching songs. Songs of chorus to rally and inspire, to drill to, to instil a sense of comradery and pride in the county’s long tradition of rebellion. It was in the spirit of such vibrant songs of revolution that ‘The Rise of Wexford Volunteers’ was made.

The song was written by Enniscorthy writer Paul O’Reilly in 2016 as part of ‘The 1916 Song Project’ which I devised and coordinated with my partner Michael Fortune. The song serves to paint a picture of the Rising in Enniscorthy, of when the town was proclaimed a Republic. And in the spirit of the orations and marching songs of old, it too is a song to be sung with gusto and volume as it attempts to rally the crowd by remembering the visionaries and heroes of a waking nation. Go to The Songs of Wexford Facebook page to view a video of Paul singing the song.

The Rise of Wexford Volunteers

Lyrics: Paul O’ Reilly

Air: ‘Clare’s Dragoons’ by Thomas Davis

On an April day as Dublin flamed,

At Fingal’s Ashe, the peelers aimed.

When news sprang out, that the tide had changed, In Wexford soon rose Volunteers.

As rebels shook that island town,

Their Slaney tide helped rise and drown, An empire’s reign came tumbling down

From that gallant march of Volunteers.

Chorus: Arise and go, fwor Wexford’s wrong! Arise and go, for Ireland’s right! Arise and go to battle throng, ‘Neath an Irish flag we vow to fight.

When Mellows camped on model hills, To fianna boys and girls taught skills, By sunburst flags they ran their drills, For to trod the roads as Volunteers. “For God and Ireland” was their cry, To strike a blow, they’d not deny.

For far too long they had stood shy, But soon would charge as Volunteers.

At dawn they rose and assembled to

Pat Keegan’s street house known to accrue Munitions, pikes to fuel the coup, So forward marched the Volunteers. Up through the Market Square they came Until the Athenaeum became

The fortress from where they’d proclaim And salute the flag of the Volunteers.

As Rafter, Galligan, Brennan steered, O’er Boro train lines soon were cleared, The R.I.C. too disappeared

From the aim of Wexford Volunteers.

The mighty strength of Antwerp’s cause Would guard the town, uphold new laws, No looters, drunks or covert Yeos

Could provoke the Wexford Volunteers.

As Doyle, White, Moran from the Cumann core Prepared a commissariat for war

All arms were seized from door-to-door

As the ranks swelled in the Volunteers.

From Rathnure’s hills, bold Ferns, Clondaw, From Oylegate, Ballindaggin they saw,

The flag of freedom was their draw,

As they marched, those gallant Volunteers.

Alas, the Easter Rising reeled,

Though Enniscorthy would not yield,

Until from Pearse, a message sealed,

Could convince the Wexford Volunteers. As Rangers tramped May morning dew, As rebels, leaders bade adieu,

Though Frongoch bound, they’d soon renew The rise of Wexford Volunteers. Aileen Lambert is a traditional singer from Ballindaggin. She works with various communities on a range of song collecting, composing and performing projects and delivers workshops in Primary Schools as part of the Heritage-in-Schools Scheme. If you have further information on a subject or song featuring in this column, or a song or verse/recitation you’d like to share with Aileen, please contact her on aileenlambert@gmail.com or 087 7552593.