Lyr Req: Green-Robed Inisfail / Innisfail

Subject: Lyr Req: Green-robed Innisfail
From: GUEST,Ana
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 12:58 AM

I'm not having much luck in tracking down the lyrics or history of an unaccompanied Irish song that's caught me.

It is an English translation - 1st verse goes something like

O far away from Erin's home some other brave sons roam
Across the broad Atlantic 3000 miles from home
No matter where they chance to stray they'll love each glen and vale
Where there Shannon's purple tide rose free through green robed Innisfail

The (long) story also has reference to Larkin and O'Brien and a cold Manchester jail
Thanks (in anticipation!!)
Ana

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Innisfail ballad
From: GUEST,Ana
Date: 06 May 11 - 06:53 PM

Just starting hunting for this again - can any one please help with lyrics or history?
Cheers

Subject: Lyr Add: GREEN-ROBED INISFAIL
From: GUEST,Ana
Date: 06 May 11 - 08:11 PM

Oops - discovered it!


GREEN-ROBED INISFAIL

Far far away from Erin's home some of our brave sons roam
Across the broad Atlantic foam, three thousand miles from home
No matter where they chance to stray they love each fair and vale
Where Shannon's purple tide rolls free through green-robed Inisfail

No wonder they would love their land, the land St Patrick blessed
Ah, a lovely land and God's command, the Eden of the west
Where peace had reigned triumphantly til the British came o'er
And tore our Irish homesteads through green-robed Inisfail

When Donal sailed away from the lovely western shore
Unto the olive groves of Spain for to return no more
He's gone he's gone our heroes cried, his loss we will bewail
He's gone he's gone he'll never return through green-robed Inisfail

When Allen, Larkin and O'Brien stood in the gallows tree
Far from their homes and friends and their mother country
It was in that dark and dreary cell in a cold Manchester jail
They roared 'may God save Ireland and green-robed Inisfail'

Dear land you've raised another son, the best that was e'er seen
Who fought his way and rowed the troops of England's virgin Queen
Who fought for peace and liberty, it was dauntless Hugh O'Neill
Who tore their flags, their orange flags, through green-robed Inisfail

Dear land you have suffered sorely through centuries it's true
But thanks to God, those tyrants could not our sons subdue
On many a well-contested plain, where bullets flew like hail
Our gallant sons they nobly fought for green-robed Inisfail

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Innisfail ballad
From: michaelr
Date: 06 May 11 - 08:49 PM

It would be great if you told us more - where did you find it, who sings it, are there recordings?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Innisfail ballad
From: GUEST,Ana
Date: 06 May 11 - 09:22 PM

Am on the hunt for that info - I originally heard it ex a radio recording, so didn't come with any details.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Innisfail ballad
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 May 11 - 03:23 PM

The text is given in Passing the Time in Ballymenone: Culture and History of an Ulster Community by Henry H. Glassie (Bloomington : Indiana University Press, 1995), page 638. Only a few fairly insignificant words are different from the version that Ana posted, so I won't bother posting it again. The writer says he collected the song from Peter Flanagan, a local traditional singer who is quoted and described frequently in the book.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green-Robed Inisfail / Innisfail
From: GUEST,Chuck C.
Date: 09 Feb 17 - 11:40 AM

I have a handwritten copy in pencil of this poem on very old paper from my great grandfather John Delaney. Family lore is that he wrote it on the boat as he crossed the Atlantic to America in late 1800's.    Not sure what to think? Was he the original author? or was he just trying to write down the poem from memory?   Thoughts.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green-Robed Inisfail / Innisfail
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Feb 17 - 09:27 PM

Interesting possibility, Chuck. It might be worth your while to see what's written about the song in Passing the Time in Ballymenone, the book Jim Dixon mentioned in his post above.
The song Jackets Green shares the phrase "Shannon's purple tide" with this song, but there seems to be no other connection between the two songs.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green-Robed Inisfail / Innisfail
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Feb 17 - 04:24 PM

From The Monitor and New Era, London, Friday, February 1, 1901, page 10:
[This newspaper seems to be aimed at Irish Catholics.]

M. Diamond (Wigtown) sends some charming lines entitled "Innisfail." We regret we have only space for one stanza:—

Though far away from Erin's Isle
  Some of her brave sons roam
Beyond the wide Atlantic waves
  Ten thousand miles from home,
No matter where they chance to be
  They love each glen and vale
Where the purple Shannon tide flows free
  Through green-robed Innisfail.

[The top of the column says:]

                VERSE COMPETITION.
          PRIZES FOR TOPICAL LINES.
      SOME CLEVER CONTRIBUTIONS.
ORIGINAL VERSES ONLY ARE ELIGIBLE.

[Make of that what you will.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green-Robed Inisfail / Innisfail
From: GUEST,gecko
Date: 18 Feb 17 - 06:24 PM

The Far North Queensland town of Innisfail, 80ks south of Cairns where I live, would certainly fit the description of "Green-Robed" as it's rainforest country. We're halfway through the 'Wet' just now and even the humidity induced mould is green!
YIU
gecko

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green-Robed Inisfail / Innisfail
From: Thompson
Date: 19 Feb 17 - 06:23 AM

The Wolfe Tones might help; one of their albums is called Across the Broad Atlantic.