I'm indebted to ard mhacha (as he is known in this parish) for sending me a copy of "Gaelic News" - a publication which was current for a time in Lurgan - dated August, 1948 in which appeared the lyrics for a ballad "The Derrymacash Meeting". The meeting itself was held at McGreavy's Corner, Derrymacash on Sunday 2nd October 1904.

I'm a sucker for songs which are very local (e.g. one of my favourite songs is "Coleraine Regatta" - anyone who's aware of this song will be aware how "trivial" the subject matter). It never ceases to amaze me the extent to which people were prepared to use song and verse to chronicle their lives and the extent to which these have survived down the years.

You can therefore imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to read the ballad set out below. I reprint the lyrics as set out in "Gaelic News" and say again good man, ard mhacha! Go raibh mile ...

THE DERRYMACASH MEETING
Oh Ireland you may well feel proud of Derrymacash this day
For in your ranks there can't be found more manly men than they
They love you with their Irish hearts, as all your sons should do
And with their sagart at their head, would strike a blow for you

When persecution, years ago, was raging o'er the land
When Catholics got no law at all, these brave men made a stand,
To save their little chapel being wrecked and knocked to smash
And warmed the orange and purple hides in style at Derrymacash

They made the wreckers rue that they had had the luck to come
And some down Raughlan Avenue made speedy tracks for home
Of course when things became too hot all rear-cuts were in
So those Orange bloods must be excused for running hard to win

Last Sunday at McGreavy's Hill, that old historic ground
The gallant men of North Armagh in thousands gathered round
Their loyalty to pledge anew to Ireland's holy cause
And to denounce in language strong proud England's cruel laws

God bless brave Farther McCartan, who came and took the chair
And our brilliant patriotic priest, young Father Frank O'Hare
Long may they both be o'er us spared to be our guide we pray
And share our joys and troubles too, along life's weary way

The orange magistrates of Lurgan town, a couple of weeks before
Did loudly bark and show their teeth and raise a great uproar
They thought our meetings to suppress to frighten us with bosh
But we showed them we were Irishmen that live at Derrymacash

The lamp of patriotism is burning brightly still
In Saunderson's constituency, against these bigots' will
And there it shall remain and burn, a light that never dies
Nor cannot be extinguished by orange bigotry nor lies

Brave men were there from Maghery, Aghagallon, Lurgan town
Ballinary, Derrytrasna too and orange Portadown
With pretty girls in blouses white to brighten up the scene
For they are Irish too you know and love the flag of green

Green banners floated in the breeze, green arches spanned the ways
Hibernian bands played Irish airs to poor ould Granu's praise
That day the green was raised on high, it looked both bright and fresh
'Tis a nasty pill for Saunderson – such work in Derrymacash

That brilliant Irish orator, Joe Devlin, from Belfast
And Dick McGhee, who served so well his country in the past
Were there that day and told us all in language clear and plain
That soon we'd have our country, boys, a nation once again

For near at hand upon the waves a tiny spark is seen
With the precious cargo of Home Rule for Erin's Isle so green
Oh, Irishmen, one final stand – unite, be firm and true
And God will soon that little barque, steer safely o'er to you

And when that happy day comes round how glad we all shall feel
To know we lent a helping hand, our country's wounds to heal
That when she, bruised and bleeding, lay beneath the tyrant's lash
None treated her more friendly than the sons of Derrymacash