Joseph Taylor from Glencar
shot by Black and Tans at his home
The song commemorates Joseph Taylor who was an officer in the Volunteers. Both he and his brother Séamas were active in the Volunteers and both died during the conflict: Joseph, during the Black and Tans and Séamas, during the Civil War.
Joseph Taylor spent six months in jail in 1918 for illegal drilling. Following his release ‘he lived in the mountains carrying out the work of the Republican army’. As mentioned in the song, Joseph was killed in early Spring, Sunday, 27th February. He had returned home to get ready for Mass when he was captured by the Black and Tans. His parents and sister were present when Joseph was dragged from the house and shot by a hedge outside. His brother Séamas was watching on. The Black and Tans had taken three other prisoners that morning and Séamas was one of them. Though Joseph had been wounded, the Black and Tans forbade anyone present to help him. ‘The mother and father came rushing from the house, but the Black and Tans held them back. They would let no-one go to the wounded man.’ After about an hour, the Tans left, releasing Joe’s brother Séamas. Joseph’s family tended to him and did not think he would die. He died, however, later that day from loss of blood.
This song was collected from Phil and Paud Collins, Loher and the McCann sisters of Glencar.
Source: Dorothy Macardle, ‘Tragedies of Kerry’ (Irish Freedom Press, 1924)
Sinéad joy
In Incharhua he is lying low the bravest of the brave,
Who’d rather fight for freedom than live a coward slave,
Who’d rather fight for freedom until his dying day,
And that is why the murder gang did take his life away.
It was well those paid assassins knew he did their threats defy,
And that for Ireland’s freedom he was content to die,
He said that Irelands’ freedom he’d faithfully maintain,
And gain his country’s freedom ‘neath the banner of Sinn Fein.
It was on a Sunday morning in early spring they came,
Disguised with armed murderers to take his life away,
Disguised with armed murderers they let his heart’s blood flow,
And that is why he sleeps today in lonely Incharhua.
It grieved my heart to see him there as tears rolled from my eyes,
To see him wrapped in Tri-Colour laid out among his boys,
To see him to lie there so low all in his youth and bloom,
As I saw Tomás Mac Curtain when he met a martyr’s doom.
There was a smile upon his face as he lay in death all cold,
He foresaw Ireland’s freedom ‘neath the flag of green and gold,
He foresaw Ireland victory and it made his heart rejoice,
And it’s for the cause he freely gave his supreme sacrifice.
Joseph Taylor was a comrade who was ever loyal and true,
Oh he has died for Ireland he has died for me and you,
Oh he has died for Ireland and proudly we will toast,
Of the fight in freedom blood red field upon the Kerry coast.
His name in history will stand beside the martyr’s, three,
With the martyred hundreds in this fight whose blood shall Ireland free?
Now may those murdered martyred pray as they stand at God’s right hand,
That we may stand steadfast and true to fate and fatherland.
If we could grasp the flames of hell we’d hurl them at the Huns,
That holds our native island by right of sword and gun,
That hold our native island but we’ll drive them from our shore,
By the help of him who reigns above whose mercy we implore.
The daisies now and soft green grass they are growing above his breast,
In colours of green, white and gold the colours he loved best,
The colours that he freely gave his young hearts blood to save,
To the hungry howling Saxon dogs who sent him to his grave.
A lonely land is Incharhua with mountains green and tall,
And there at evening tide is heard the curlew’s lonely call,
And there at evenings yet to come the pilgrim kneels to pray,
For God’s mercy on the martyred soul that’s in his grave today.