Hello All, I have never heard any one in Lurgan refer to the song as a patriotic or a nationalist song, we just regarded the song as a sporting triumph. From where I am sitting I can see Brownlow House or Lurgan Castle as it known to he locals. The Brownlow Family when they first arrived wouldn`t have been classed as hardline landlords, but there descendants and espically the Brownlow who owned Master McGrath was held in low esteem by the local Catholic population.In order to enlarge his Coursing site my great Grandfather was evicted from Annaloiste a small townland near Lough Neagh. Lord Lurgan had the reputation of being a heavy gambler and in 1871 when the dog failed to win his third sucessive Waterloo Cup his lorshit lost heavily and also losing heavily were the towns business people. The following year Lord Lurgan convinced of his dogs prowess, had borrowed a large amount which he laid on the dog, coming up trumps Brownlow bought out most of the Towns businessmen, which at that time mostly involved the Linen trade. And yes McGrath of Harlow, old Brownlow would have wagered five thousand, after all he could always fall back on his helpless tenants and screw them for a few thousands more. Still I am humming the bloody song as I write. Slan Ard Mhacha.