Sean South of Garryowen

notes:
historical: First, I will ask that if you haven't read it, please click here for my disclaimer.

According to a pretty 'RA 'RA site, "Sean South was shot dead,along with Fergal O'Hanlon, during a daring raid on an R.U.C base during the I.R.A's border campaign of 1956-1962. This campaign, because of the lack of popular support, was quickly subdued by the then Unionist parliament at Stormont, and many I.R.A volunteers were interned without trial." (The R.U.C. is the Royal Ulster Constabulary, a pretty unpopular [with Northern Irish Republicans] police force. Last I heard it was going to be renamed, but I'm not sure what ever became of that.)
CDs/MP3s: The Prodigals haven't recorded this song, but enough other people have. Though as always I maintain that the Prodigals version is better than any other version I've heard.
special Prodigals info: A very good kick-ass rebel song, especially the way the Prodigals play it, which is to say rilly rilly fast. When they say "and Tyrone", the proper response is to shout, "And Tyrone!", shaking your fist. (Tyrone is one of the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.)

Sean South of Garryowen

Ray: "Now we'll have a little bit of poetry."

spoken: Sad are the homes 'round Garryowen
Since lost their giant pride.
And the banshee cry links every vale
Around the Shannon side
That city of the ancient walls
The broken Treaty Stone,
undying fame surrounds your name -
Sean South of Garryowen.

song starts: 'Twas on a dreary New Year's Eve
As the shades of night came down
A lorry load of volunteers approached a border town
There were men from Dublin and from Cork
Fermanagh and Tyrone (And Tyrone!!)
But the leader was a Limerick man -
Sean South from Garryowen.

And as they moved along the street
Up to the barracks door
They scorned the danger they might meet
Their fate that lay in store
They were fighting for old Ireland's cause
To claim their very own
And the foremost of that gallant band
Was South of Garryowen.

But the sergeant spoiled their daring plan
He spied them through the door
The Sten guns and the rifles
A hail of death did pour
And when that awful night was passed
Two men lay cold as stone
There was one from near the border
And one from Garryowen

I don't think that the boys sing this. Instead, they sing the second verse again.
No more he will hear the seagull's cry
O'er the murmuring Shannon tide
For he fell beneath a northern sky
Brave Hanlon by his side
They have gone to join that gallant band
Of Plunkett, Pearse, and Tone
A martyr for old Ireland
Sean South from Garryowen

The site I got that history from also has the chords available (I haven't tried them yet, so I can't tell you if they sound right or not). Here's the link: Irish Rebel Songs

And this site has a little score. You know, with notes?