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Clare to the Front
Michael ‘Straighty’ Flanagan
Inagh

Carroll Mackenzie Collection

Michael 'Straighty' Flanagan
 

Clare to the front, I will sound your name.
Your well known, you’re famous no doubt you are game.
Our sons and fair daughters, they were sent to jail,
For loving old Ireland and poor Granuaile.

Then, hurray for the men who when prison are bound,
Their names we won’t mention their true hearts are sound.
For the boys of Miltown, they are suffering to save
The children of Clare and the home for the brave.

There is Quin, Newmarket and Clare to a man,
And the loyal men of Ennis stood two hundred strong.
Ashford (?), asthore, 'tis there you’d see play,
For no man from Ennis did dare on the way.

Then hurray for the men who when prison are bound,
Their names we won’t mention, their true hearts are sound.
For the boys of Miltown they are suffering to save,
The children of Clare and the home for the brave.

There is now Killadysart and Pound Street you see,
And throughout County Clare they long to be free.
The men of Bodyke are daring you know,
We will sound their praises wherever we go.

There is Scariff, Tuamgraney and the boys of Bodyke,
Kilkishen and Broadford, they would you delight.
O’Callaghan’s Mills and Tulla , you see,
And the loyal men of Feakle loves Erin machree.

Corofin, Ennistymon, Kilfenora you see,
And around Lisdoonvarna they long to be free.
There are too many heroes locked up in a cell,
For loving old Ireland and loving her well.

Miltown you’re my darling I will sound your name,
For miles and miles ‘round you for freedom you gain.
The grand men of Mullagh will stand one and all,
And the boys of Kilkee, they will come to our call.

There is Quilty, Kilmurry and sweet Cooraclare,
And the boys of Kilrush very loudly will cheer.
Their hearts they are faithful and loyal you see,
For they long to see Home Rule in our country.

Hurray for the men who when prison are bound,
Their names we won’t mention, their true hearts are sound.
For the boys of Miltown, they are suffering to save,
The children of Clare and the home for the brave.

Then hurray for our mountains so towering and high,
Where fond hearts do beat and fond bosoms do lie.
Who were the men who came first in the fray,
To drive the landlords and the bailiffs away?

 
     
 “Hardly surprising, this celebration of Clare’s revolutionary spirit seems not to have been found anywhere else, probably indicating that it was a local composition – it speaks for itself without having to add anything other than – up Clare!!”
Jim Carroll


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