happy? - June 5

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happy? - June 5

05 Jun 05 - 10:35 AM (#1500487)
Subject: happy? - June 5
From: Abby Sale

June 5, 1798: Insurgents routed at New Ross, Co Wexford, after heavy fighting. The leader was John Kelly of Killanne, County Wexford. He was seriously wounded in Michael Street, New Ross. He was recovering in Wexford Town when it was re-captured by the British. A Yeoman sergeant who was a neighbour and whose life he had saved some days before, gave evidence against him. He was hanged on Wexford Bridge, his trunk conveyed to the waters and his head trailed and kicked along the streets before being spiked. Friends recovered the head and brought it to Killanne for burial and a monument was later erected on the spot.


          But the gold sun of Freedom grew darkened at Ross,
          And it set by the Slaney's red waves;
          And poor Wexford, stript naked, hung high on a cross,
          And her heart pierced by traitors and slaves!
          Glory O! Glory O! to her brave sons who died
          For the cause of the long-down-trodden man!
          Glory O! to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride –
          Dauntless Kelly, the Boy from Killanne!
  
                  "Kelly, the Boy from Killanne" by PJ McCall (1861-1919)
                  [see 1798 homepages: http://homepages.iol.ie:80/~fagann/1798/chronolo.htm ]