Ginkel, Sarsfield

Subject: Ginkel, Sarsfield
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 04:10 AM

I'm meeting a gentleman called Ginkel today.

His name reminded me of primary school history lessons, and of a poem (about the siege of Limerick, I think) which most kids in Ireland used to learn and which includes the phrase "grim-eyed Dutch gunner". But that's as much as I can remember of the poem, unless it also includes the old "Sarsfield's the word and Sarsfield's the man" punchline.

Can anyone point me towards the words of the poem? I've tried a google search (which turns up various Wild Geese items and dozens of Sarsfield sporting clubs in the Hispanic world), DT and several Mudcat threads which discuss the battle of Aughrim and Sean O Duibhir a' Ghleanna, but can't find the poem I'm looking for.

Subject: RE: BS: Ginkel, Sarsfield
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 05:20 AM

Here in Athlone, there's a nightclub called "Ginkels" - which reminds me that the poem you're thinking of may be about the Siege of Athlone, rather than Limerick! The title is rattling around in my brain at present - and may yet surface.

Regards

p.s. Poet was Aubrey deVere?

Subject: RE: BS: Ginkel, Sarsfield
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 05:22 AM

Got it! Click Here.

Regards

Subject: RE: BS: Ginkel, Sarsfield
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 06:31 AM

Thanks a million, Martin, and you're right about Athlone. I'm sure they don't teach that poem anymore, it's a far too 19th-century-romantic-nationalist effort to show that we too had our heroes on bridges (just like Horatio, Napoleon etc.).

For anyone else who happens to browse this thread, here's a site run by an Irishman whom I met a few years ago that gives some information on Sarsfield and the Wild Geese.

And here's another, run by a US-based organisation.

Both are enthusiasts' sites, and I can't vouch for their academic standing. If you want to research folk songs about the period, do a DT/Mudcat search on Sarsfield, Wild Geese or Aughrim, and you'll probably get more than enough to keep you going.

Subject: RE: BS: Ginkel, Sarsfield
From: Fiolar
Date: 13 Jun 02 - 11:42 AM

To add some more information regarding the poem - the man who called for the volunteers was a sergeant of dragoons by the name of Costume. It took twenty in all with only two survivors out of that number. The army barracks in Athlone is named in Costume's honour.