Classic Poem

In Mountjoy jail one Monday morning,
High upon the gallows tree
Kevin Barry gave his young life,
For the cause of liberty,
But a lad of eighteen summers,
Yet no one can deny
As he walked to death that morning,
He proudly held his head on high.

Just before he faced the hangman,
In his dreary prison cell,
British soldiers tortured Barry,
Just because he would not tell
The names of his brave companions,
And other things they wished to know,
" Turn informer or we'll kill you,"
Kevin Barry answered " No".

Calmly standing to " attention",
While he bade his last farewell
To his broken-hearted mother,
Whose grief no one can tell.
For the cause he proudly cherished,
This sad parting had to be;
Then to death walked softly smiling,
That old Ireland might be free.

Another martyr for old Ireland,
Another murder for the crown,
Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish,
But can't keep their spirit down.
Lads like Barry are no cowards,
From the foe they will not fly,
Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For her sake they'll live and die.