Microsoft Word - Boolavogue Notes.docx
1
Boolavogue
"Boolavogue" is an Irish ballad commemorating the campaign of Father John Murphy and his
army in County Wexford during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was composed by Patrick Joseph
McCall in 1898, the centenary of the Rebellion.
This song is about the priest who had led the group of peasants, or rebels as they were called,
against the English in Wexford at the battle in 1798.
The peasants were beaten by the British. The priest was taken and his body was
oken at the
ack.
The ballad is about Fr. Michael Murphy, a young priest, who saw the suffering of the people and
tried to help them – almost like an Irish version of Joan of Arc. He came from a place called
Boolavogue, which is a town in County Wexford, Ireland. The song is also known as ‘Father
Murphy’.
The ballad covers the victories of Father John Murphy of the village of Boolavogue in County
Wexford as he led his parishioners in routing the Camolin Cavalry on 26 May 1798, to defeat the
British at Oulart Hill, as well as at Enniscorthy. The Wexford insurgents fought
avely against
professional troops, and were eventually defeated at the Battle of Vinegar Hill on 21 June. Father
Murphy and the other leaders were hanged.
Father Murphy was a priest who at first tried to persuade people not to take part in the rebellion.
He changed his opinion and became a reluctant rebel leader after soldiers burned down the
homes of his parishioners whom they suspected of rebellion. The Lieutenant Thomas Bookey
whose 'regiment' is mentioned in the song was the leader of the Yeoman Cavalry in the
Boolavogue area.
McCall, who also composed the popular ballads "Kelly the Boy from Killanne" and "Follow Me up
to Carlow", wrote "Boolavogue" to the old air "Eochaill" (in English, "Youghal Ha
our"). The tune
had previously been bo
owed for the Irish/Australian traditional song "Moreton Bay" (1830),
about an Irish convict's
utal treatment in Australia, and would later be used by Seán Ó Riada
as part of the film score for Mise Éire XXXXXXXXXXThe song was inspired by songs contemporary to
the events of 1798 such as "Come All You Wa
iors".
Liam Gaul XXXXXXXXXXstates that "Boolavogue" is the song most closely associated with PJ McCall,
and has become an anthem for Wexford. Gaul notes that "Boolavogue" was not published in any
of McCall’s literary works, and was first printed in the Irish Independent on 18 June 1898 under
the title Fr Murphy of the County Wexford. This title was still being used when it appeared in the
1922 edition of Padraig Breathnach’s Songs of the Gael. It was only later that the song became
widely known as "Boolavogue".
McCall was from Dublin, but often visited Wexford, and was familiar with its history and
geography. "Boolavogue" contains references to people and places that played a major part in
the 1798 Rising.
References:
Glory O! Glory O! The Life of PJ McCall by Liam Gaul, The History Press Ireland, 2011
2
Please listen to the ballad performed by the RTÉ (Raidió TeilifÃs Éireann - the Irish National
Television and Radio Broadcaster) concert orchestra on Spotify.
The following is the link to the song on spotify:
https:
open.spotify.com/search
esults
oolavogue%20Se%C3%A1n%20%C3%93%20Riada
Please also listen to these versions:
1. https:
www.joeheaney.org/en
oolavogue/
2. https:
open.spotify.com/search
esults
oolavogue%20the%20clancy
3. https:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnJp5Aw65fE
3
Boolavogue Lyrics
At Boolavogue as the sun was setting
O'er the
ight May meadows of Shelmalier,
A rebel hand set the heather blazing
And
ought the neighbours from far and near.
Then Father Murphy from old Kilcormack
Spu
ed up the rocks with a warning cry:
'Arm! Arm!' he cried, 'For I've come to lead you;
For Ireland's freedom we'll fight or die!'
He led us on against the coming soldiers,
And the cowardly yeomen we put to flight:
'Twas at the Ha
ow the boys of Wexford
Showed Bookey's regiment how men could fight.
Look out for hirelings, King George of England;
Search every kingdom where
eathes a slave,
For Father Murphy of County Wexford
Sweeps o'er the land like a mighty wave.
We took Camolin and Enniscorthy
And Wexford storming drove out our foes
'Twas at Slieve Coilte our pikes were reeking
With the crimson blood of the beaten Yeos.
At Tu
erneering and Ballyellis
Full many a Hessian lay in his gore,
Ah! Father Murphy had aid come over
The green flag floated from shore to shore!
At Vinegar Hill, o'er the pleasant Slaney
Our heroes vainly stood back to back,
and the Yeos at Tullow took Father Murphy
and burned his body upon a rack.
4
God grant you glory,
ave Father Murphy
And open Heaven to all your men,
The cause that called you may call tomo
ow
In another fight for the Green again.
Songs Of Irish Rebellion, Zimmerman, G. D. (2002)
Grace O'Malley: The Queen of the West
Grace O'Malley: The Queen of the West
Author(s): Conor Maguire
Source: Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, Vol. 32, No. 126 (Jun., 1943), pp XXXXXXXXXX
Published by: Irish Province of the Society of Jesus
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GRACE O'MALLEY : THE QUEEN OF THE
WEST
BY CONOR dSAGUIRSr M.D.
GRACE o'MALLEY (Irish name Srsi n n e li i t A,tte was a most
remarkable and famous woman who lived in the reign of Elizabeth
of England. She has been com600ly called Grainuail.e--a co
upt amalgam
of her Christian name and surname. It is not easy to understand why
Grainne was translated Grace ; I suppose it was the nearest English
equivalent they could get. GrAinne means ugly ; but the same word
means a grain, a small quantity-as one might say a grain of tea or sugar.
The proper Irish for Grace would be Gras ; so it is rather a puzzle to
find an explanation of the translation of Grainne into Grace.
Grainuaile was a daughter of Dubhdhara 0 Mille, who was the Lord
of upper Umhah Ui Mhailie in the region of Mu
isk in the county of
Mayo. There is no record of the date of her birth; but from what Si
Richard Bingham wrote of her in 1593, "the the nurse of all the rebellions
in Connact for the past qo years," we may guess that she was born about
1530. It is probable that she spent her childhood and early years on
Clare Island, and that it was there she , learned all about ships and the
sea. The local tradition is that she was born in the 600astery on Clare
Island.
Grainne had a
other who was heir to his father's lands, but she ousted
him and made herself owner and master over her father's te
itory. The
O'Malley te
itory em
aced Clare Island and Achill.
The tradition is that she was a very beautiful woman 2 The dark
lady of Doona." At any rate, she had a very commanding presence, and
her exploits show that she was a capable sea-captain and a ruler of men.
It is said that she died in 1603 in the same year as Queen Elizabeth.
There is a doubt as to where she was buried. Some say Clare Island,
others Doonagh or Bu
ishoole, which latter retains the old name of the
O'Malley te
itory. I refer my readers to a learned paper by T. J.
Westropp, published in the Proceedings of R.I.A. (Vol. 31, section
on the history and archaeology of Clare Island. In the old a
ey on
the island there is an inscription on the wall " O'Maille " and, above
the name, "Te
a marique potens." The O'Malleys were warlike and
fond of the sea (See poem on them by O'Dugan, who died in 1372).
Grainne built a castle on Clare Island which is still standing on a
rock. It is of low square outline, with bartizans projecting from two
corners. It was used as a coast-guard station in the early part of the last
century. She also had a castle on the island of Achill, near the shore of
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2?6 Studies [Jun
the sound which separates the island from the mainland, called Ki1I.
downet, There is a burial ground bearing the same name close to the
castle. This castle is in good preservation.
Tu
er na feile Brigide on Clare Island is associated with Grainne
in this way. When she was a girl she rescued a young man from a ship
wreck, and he fell deeply in love with his preserver. They were ma
ied
at the altar near the well and, lived very happily for some years. Then a
feud arose between the MacMahons of Ballycroy and the O'Malleys.
The MacMahons surprised the O'Mall.eys at a deer hunt in Achill, and
Grainne's husband fell in an ambuscade. The young widow made a
solemn vow of vengeance and bided her time. Hearing from an E
is