Belfast Graves - Ray McAreavey

Subject: Belfast Graves - Ray McAreavey
From: mmsarge
Date: 02 May 01 - 11:24 PM

Recently came across the above listed song and am having some difficulty with the names and places of the men mentioned in the tune. I am interested in their history and the cause for which they died. Below are the lyrics:

"Through Belfast's lonely graveyard
I strayed one autumn night
Around a grave a crowd I saw
In the evening's fading light
And from the men and women folk
Who knelt around that mound
Came the Paters and the Aves
In a soft tone Gaelic sound

Within this grave a young man speaks
Died two of Ireland's sons
Who gave their lives in freedoms cause
And faced Ireland guns
On Kevin's(?) Mountain Lapanduff(?)
Fought one with bravery
Until the English soldiers killed
Brave Sean McCahartley(?)

In Mount Joy jail the other one
On Mary's festive morn'
The bright red cloak of martyrdom
For Ireland did adorn
And as the church bells chimed their peal
To Mary Immaculate
A Free State firing party sent
Joe McKelvey to death's gate

And farther there across the path
Lies one who knew not kin(?)
A soldier who in Ireland's cause
His life he gladly spent
Through battle fire and prison cell
And comrades treachery(?)
Brave Paddy Nash withstood it all
Until death claimed victory

And all around are monuments
That bear the martyr's names
True patriot's who had served and died
To kindle freedom's flame
Nettroden(???), Gayer, and O'Carol
With Marcus Docker(?) brave
Remember them, they died for us
And found a martyr's grave

And, oh, my friend look farther there
A grave just freshly made
A boy we all loved in our hearts
There in that grave is laid
When just a boy of sixteen years
A felon's cap he wore
God rest you, Frankie Dougherty
Ireland's cross you proudly bore

The ceremony's over
The crowd is gone and I'm alone
With thoughts that take my memory back
To McCracken and Wolfe Tone
And in every generation still
They call on that noble band
To sacrifice their brave young lives
In the cause of Ireland".

Please forgive the words listed with the (?) following them. Those are as heard by a 39 y.o. man from Philly PA USA. Any help with the names or battles would be greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: Belfast Graves - Ray McAreavey
From: paddymac
Date: 03 May 01 - 01:22 AM

The names that I recognize are all Irish republicans who died for their cause, from 1798 onward. It might also be that they are all northern men (i.e.; from Ulster), but maybe someone else can speak more accurately to that.

It seems like a nice song - do you know the melody used?

Subject: RE: Belfast Graves - Ray McAreavey
From: GUEST,mmsarge
Date: 03 May 01 - 09:36 PM

Sorry, Paddy, never heard the melody before. Thanks for the info. Mark

Subject: RE: Belfast Graves - Ray McAreavey
From: Wolfgang
Date: 04 May 01 - 05:42 AM

Here's a bit of background for McKelvey.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Belfast Graves - Ray McAreavey
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 04 May 01 - 10:22 PM

Refresh!

Subject: RE: Belfast Graves - Ray McAreavey
From: GUEST,melody
Date: 30 Dec 10 - 12:54 PM

Shawl of Galway Grey

Subject: RE: Belfast Graves - Ray McAreavey
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 13 - 11:22 PM

"Through Belfast's lonely graveyard
I strayed one autumn night
Around a grave a crowd I saw
In the evening's fading light
And from the men and women folk
Who knelt around that mound
Came the Paters and the Aves
In a soft toned Gaelic sound

"Within this grave," a young man speaks,
"Died two of Ireland's sons
Who gave their lives in freedoms cause
And faced the tyrant's guns
On Cavan's mountain Lapinduff
Fought one with bravery
Until the English soldiers killed
Brave Sean McCartney

In Mount Joy jail the other one
On Mary's festive morn
The bright red cloak of martyrdom
For Ireland did adorn
And as the church bells chimed their paean
To Mary Immaculate
A Free State firing party sent
Joe McKelvey to death's gate

And farther there across the path
Lies one who knew not cant
A soldier who in Ireland's cause
His life he gladly spent
Through battle, fire, and prison cell
And comrades' treachery
Brave Paddy Nash withstood it all
Until death claimed victory

And all around are monuments
That bear the martyr's names
True patriot's who had served and died
To kindle freedom's flame
Ned Trodden, Gaynor, and O'Caroll
With MacAstocker brave
Remember them, they died for us
And found a martyr's grave

And, oh, my friend look farther there
A grave just freshly made
A boy we all loved in our hearts
There in that grave is laid
When just a boy of sixteen years
A felon's cap he wore
God rest you, Frankie Doherty
Ireland's cross you proudly bore."

The ceremony's over
The crowd is gone and I'm alone
With thoughts that take my memory back
To McCracken and Wolfe Tone
And in every generation still
They call on that noble band
To sacrifice their brave young lives
In the cause of Ireland