Martin,

Well, I was generalising, but as far as I know, Kevin Barry was written in Ireland, immediately after his murder. I wonder if you are thinking about Johnny Thompson, the Scots footballer who was killed by a kick to the head in 1931. The song which was written about him was set to the tune of Kevin Barry.

In any event, there is plenty of evidence to indicate that the Black and Tans would have dealt viciously with anyone caught singing anything they considered seditious. Note also their lethal proscripition on anyone they caught speaking Irish, and the ban on public assemblies which resulted in the Croke Park massacre. Note also the case of Alexander Somerville, a soldier in the Royal Scots Greys, who received 500 lashes with a cat of nine tails for an act which the authorities considered seditious.

Small wonder you don't come across too many anti-monarchist songs.