Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week

Subject: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: quokka
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 10:08 AM

I don't know the title of the song but I have one verse, if anyone can help with more info that would be great.

Shall my soul pass on to Heaven when I leave this world of pain
Shall I meet the men of '98 by cruel England slain
Or meet the men of Easter week who made that gallant stand
They sacrificed their lives and blood for us and Ireland

Thanks,

Quokka

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: Effsee
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 12:09 PM

quokka, this reminds me of a song my dear old Mum used to sing (about 50yrs ago).
I think the title was "Will my soul pass through Ireland?" and it was written about Patrick (?) McSweeny of Cork who died after a hunger strike in prison in London. Unfortunately I didn't write down the lyrics. Hope this is of some help.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHALL MY SOUL PASS THROUGH OLD IRELAND
From: GUEST,Shaneo not logged in
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 02:13 PM

This is the song Effse mentions but I don't think it's the same song quokka is searching for, some of the words are similar though and perhaps quokka remembers it differently ?

In a dreary British prison where an Irish rebel lay.
By his side a priest waits standing were his soul to pass away.
As he gently murmurs father, the priest takes him by the hand.
Father tell me if I die shall my soul pass through Ireland.

Shall my soul pass through old Ireland pass through Cork city grand.
Shall I see the old Cathedral where Saint Patrick made his stand.
Shall I see the little chapel where I placed my heart in hand.
Father tell me when I die shall my soul pass through Ireland.

Was for loving dear old Ireland in this prison cell I lie.
Was for loving dear old Ireland in this foreign land I die.
When you see my little daughter won't you make her understand.
Father tell me if I die shall my soul pass through Ireland.

With his soul pure as a lily and his body sanctified.
In that dreary British prison our brave Irish rebel died.
Prayed the priest his wish be granted as his blessing he did (give).
Father grant this brave man's wish may his soul pass through Ireland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: Effsee
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 03:18 PM

Bejaysus Shaneo, you just wheeched me back a half century and put the hairs on the back of my neck up! I could hear her singing those words in my head. Thanks for posting the lyrics!
Quokka's verse would fit in after V3 of your version quite nicely don't you think?

I knew "Patrick" didn't sound quite right, it was of course Terence McSweeny, the Lord Mayor of Cork, who died on a hunger strike in protest at British rule in 1920.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: GUEST,Shaneo not logged in
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 03:34 PM

And if your feeling a bit nostalgic have a listen to The Dublin City Ramblers singing it, I'ts close to the tune of Kevin Barry, Youtube-Shall My Soul Pass Through Old Ireland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: Effsee
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 03:45 PM

Aye Shaneo, KB is the tune I hear her singing. Thanks for the link.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: quokka
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 07:13 PM

Thanks, Effsee and Shaneo, but I don't think it's the same song because the verse I have does not assume he's going to Heaven -
"Shall my soul pass on to Heaven?" I think it's a question, whereas in your song he's quite sure of the destination but just wants to make a detour!

Cheers,

Quokka

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: quokka
Date: 15 Oct 08 - 06:58 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: ardmacha2
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 05:21 AM

Ther was a song with the line in it Wh o fears to speak of ninety eight

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: ardmacha2
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 05:30 AM

Have just come across another piece of info. The song you refer to could be A MEMORY OF THE DEAD,sometimes referred to Who Fears To Speak Of Ninety Eight written by John Kells.If YOu go to google type in song lyrics who fears to speak of ninety eight and asite will come up showing these lyrics and many other fine Irish songs with the lyrics and chords

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: Thompson
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 07:45 PM

What a male world it sounds. It brings me back to my great-aunts, who didn't, honestly, think much of the state that had been snatched from the jaws of their fight. These were strong women who had fought for the Republic, and lived to see a state that would take away their right to work after marriage; a state that would take all power from those who had fought for it, and give it to the smooth, anodyne plámásers who would work with the bishops and the civil servants and forget the people.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: quokka
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 07:57 PM

I do know of that song, Ardmacha2, but it's not the same one. I think the writer is John Kells Ingram. There's a famous poem as well, who fears to speak of Easter week,probably based on Ingram's.This song had both '98 and Easter week mentioned but it's not The Valley of Knockanure.So, still looking for it!
Thanks for your contribution.

Cheers,

Quokka

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: quokka
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 11:24 AM

This song was from the singing of John Breheny from Sligo, a long time ago, if that helps any!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: GUEST,TOM O'DONNELL
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 03:22 PM

LOOKING FOR A LITHOGRAPH. THE MEN OF 98. HAVE YOU SEEN IT?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD (John Kells Ingram
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 09:42 PM

This is certainly not the song that was requested, but since it has been mentioned here, I thought I might as well add it.

Lyrics copied from:

Davis, Thomas Osborne. The Spirit of the Nation. Ballads and Songs by the Writers of "The Nation," with Original and Ancient Music, Arranged for the Voice and Piano Forte. Dublin: James Duffy, 1845, page 46:


THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD.
(John Kells Ingram, 1820)

1. WHO fears to speak of Ninety-Eight?
Who blushes at the name?
When cowards mock the patriot's fate,
Who hangs his head for shame?
He's all a knave, or half a slave,
Who slights his country thus;
But a true man, like you, man,
Will fill your glass with us.

2. We drink the memory of the brave,
The faithful and the few—
Some lie far off beyond the wave—
Some sleep in Ireland, too;
All—all are gone—but still lives on
The fame of those who died—
All true men, like you, men,
Remember them with pride.

3. Some on the shores of distant lands
Their weary hearts have laid,
And by the stranger's heedless hands
Their lonely graves were made;
But, though their clay be far away
Beyond the Atlantic foam—
In true men, like you, men,
Their spirit's still at home.

4. The dust of some is Irish earth;
Among their own they rest;
And the same land that gave them birth
Has caught them to her breast;
And we will pray that from their clay
Full many a race may start
Of true men, like you, men,
To act as brave a part.

5. They rose in dark and evil days
To right their native land;
They kindled here a living blaze
That nothing shall withstand.
Alas ! that Might can vanquish Right—
They fell and pass'd away;
But true men, like you, men,
Are plenty here to-day.

6. Then here's their memory—may it be
For us a guiding light,
To cheer our strife for liberty,
And teach us to unite.
Through good and ill, be Ireland's still,
Though sad as theirs your fate;
And true men be you, men,
Like those of Ninety-Eight.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHO FEARS TO SPEAK OF EASTER WEEK?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 09:45 PM

And this is the later song that was patterned after the one above:

Lyrics copied from http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/bibdbs/music/songs82.htm#no7


WHO FEARS TO SPEAK OF EASTER WEEK?

1. Who fears to speak of Easter Week?
Who dares its fate deplore?
The red gold flame of Eire's name
Confronts the world once more!
Oh! Irishmen, remember then,
And raise your heads with pride,
For great men and straight men
Have fought for you and died.

2. The spirit wave that came to save
The peerless Celtic soul,
From earthly stain of greed and gain
Had caught them in its roll;
Had swept them high to do or die,
To sound a trumpet call;
For true men though few men
To follow one and all.

3. Upon their shield a stainless field,
With virtues blazoned bright;
With Temperance and Purity
And Truth and Honour dight
So now they stand at God's Right Hand,
Who framed their dauntless clay,
Who taught them and brought them
The glory of today.

4. The storied page of this our age
Will save our land from shame
The ancient foe had boasted—ho!
That Irishmen were tame
They bought their souls for paltry doles,
And told the world of slaves
That lie men! shall die, men!
In Pearse and Plunkett's graves.

5. The brave who've gone to linger on
Beneath the tyrant's heel—
We know they pray another day
With clash of clanging steel
Now from their cell their voices swell,
And loudly call on you
Then ask, men! the task, men!
That yet remains to do.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: GUEST,TOM ODONNELL
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 10:59 AM

Looking for a copy of a lithograph entitled "The Men of 98." In the center is Father Murphy of Arklo falling from wounds. The border is murals of Irish heroes. Robert Emmet, Wolf Tone, etc. This lithograph was brought from Glasgow by my grandfather Patrick Lynch to the USA. It hung for years in our hall. When we moved from Washington Heights NY it was lost.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Aug 10 - 08:41 PM

Tom O'Donnell: This must be the lithograph you are looking for: Click here.

The description:

"The Men of '98" Centenary Poster,

lithograph by James Walker, Jones Road, Dublin
76 by 51cm., 30 by 20in.

Framed attractive poster with centrepiece of Father Michael Murphy with vignettes of six other leaders.

If I understand correctly, one copy was offered for sale in an online auction by Whyte's of Dublin on April 23, 2010 but did not obtain the minimum bid of €300 and so was not sold. It isn't clear to me whether you can still bid on this item.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: Thompson
Date: 20 Mar 16 - 02:17 AM

Further information on Who Fears to Speak of Easter Week a href="http://bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0355.pdf#page=24">here, in the witness statement of Kitty O'Doherty in the Bureau of Military History - she says her sister, a nun, wrote it on the back of an envelope on 3 May 1916 when she heard of the execution of PH Pearse, and it was smuggled out by an Irish teacher.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: Thompson
Date: 20 Mar 16 - 03:08 AM

Incidentally, Kitty O'Doherty can be… a little unreliable and self-serving at times - here's her pension statement, for instance in which she refers to Fionán Lynch as having been 'boozed' and herself having been sent in his place to Tralee with mobilisation orders, and in comparison here's Fionán Lynch's own witness statement to the Bureau, which shows him as more importantly occupied.
But I'm sure her saying her sister wrote that song was honest.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: thetwangman
Date: 27 Mar 16 - 07:00 AM

This set of lyrics have been attributed to Maria Giddons who was a nun. Probaly the same nun referred to by Kitty O'Doherty above. But it is a different set of lyrics to the ones posted by Jim Dixon.

http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000152920

Who fears to speak of Easter Week
(Maria Giddons)

Who fears to speak of Easter Week?
Who blushes at the name?
When cowards mock the patriots fate,
Who hangs his head for shame?
He's all a knave, or half a slave
Who slights his country thus.
But a true man, like you, man,
Will fill your glass with us.

Some on shores of distant lands
Their weary hearts have laid.
And by the stranger's heedless hands
Their lonely graves were made:
But, though their clay be far away
Beyond the Atlantic foam -
In true men like you, men,
Their spirit's still at home.

The dust of some is Irish earth:
Among their own they rest:
And the same land that gave them birth
Has caught them to her breast:
And we will pray that from their clay
Full many a race may start
Of true man, like you, men
To act as brave a part.

They rose in dark and evil days
To right their native land
They kindled here a living blaze
That nothing shall withstand
Alas! That Might can vanquish Right -
They fell and passed away:
But true man, like you, men
Are plenty here today.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: men of '98, men of Easter week
From: AmyLove
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 05:52 AM

Does anyone here know who has done a recording of the song Jim Dixon posted - the one which starts out:

Who fears to speak of Easter Week?
Who dares its fate deplore?