The Kerry Eagle

The Kerry Eagle is a pseudonym for the Liberator Daniel O’Connell. The song below comes from a ballad sheet ref:1826-BS from the collection of the late Leslie Shepard (1917-2004) He was a world authority and prolific writer on street literature. He bequeathed much of his collection of Irish interest to the Irish Traditional Music archive. The ballad sheet was printed by G.Buchan (late Andrews),

Printer,&c, 15 & 17, St Peter’s St., Leeds

You sons of Hibernia now listen awhile to my song,

When you hear it, you won’t say that it’s wrong,

It’s of a bold eagle, his age was over three score,

He was the pride of the tribe and the flower of Erin’s green shore

From the green hills of Kerry, so merry my eagle took wing,

With talents as rare and clear he began for to sing;

The people admired and delighted in his charming air,

So soon they elected him as member for Clare.

It was straight off to London my eagle took flight o’er main,

His voice reached to America, all o’er France and through Spain,

But the black feathered tribe thought to bribe his sweet note,

But he would not sing to the tune of that curious oath.

Back to Granuale he set sail, like cloud through the smoke,

And told her that one of her fetters was broke;

then for ‘mancipation they stood up to a man,

My eagle in triumph united the whole Irish land.

The boys of Tipperary, Roscommon, Westmeath and mayo,

Sweet Wexford, Kildare, and Clare manfully rose;

Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny, likewise the sweet county Louth,

With Meath in a struggle for liberty my eagle was crowned.

To the city of Dublin my eagle took a flight,

To King’s and queen’s country, in Sligo he did them delight,

He crossed into Carlow, in Galway he made a stand,

And the tradesmen in Ireland all vowed they would go with the man.

My eagle was often pursued by some, it is true,

With clap traps and plane my eagle they sought to subdue,

But their wild plans appeared to be useless and frail.

And ‘till death he was staunch to the harp with the bond of repeal.

It was at one time, that the little bird, called the Stair,

He challenged my eagle to fight on the plains of Kildare;

But my eagle this morning for Ireland he showed a true pluck,

Two ounces of lead in the belly of Stair he had stuck.

But task masters that party might do as they will,

But the cry for peace without fail is old Ireland’s still;

And when the division took place, in sorrow my eagle was seen,

His heart broken with grief, and departed for Erin the green.

He departed his last in a far distant land from his home,

His heart it remains in the holy blessed palace of Rome;

His soul is in heaven, to dwell with angels and saints,

And his body is in Glasnevin, for ever with us to remain.

Now to conclude, may his soul rest in heaven, I pray,

For his motto was peace, and his country he ne’er did betray;

The whole world I’m sure can’t produce such a man,

Let us all live in peace, and forever remember brave Dan.