“Come All You Roman Catholics”

Description

Father McFadden is in Derry jail. Sub-inspector Martin had arrested him after Sunday Mass. "David ... by the Lord's command" killed Martin by sling shot "The people laughed and cheered" to see Martin taken away. "The Devil met him at the gates"

Notes

McBride: "[Father McFadden] formed local branches of the Land League in West Donegal."

See the reference to the 1888 imprisonment of Father McFadden of Donegal in Derry Prison "for an agrarian speech" (source: Chapters of Dublin History site, _Letters and Leaders of my Day_ Chapter XXII "Parnellism and Crime" (1887-8), by T.M. Healy). The description there has no "David" and sling shot. Instead, thinking that Martin had struck McFadden with his drawn sword, the congregants rooted up the pailing from McFadden's garden and "battered in Martin's skull." Some of the attackers were arrested with McFadden. The story of the convictions, plea bargaining and sentencing is told there from the defense attorney's viewpoint. - BS

References

  1. Tunney-StoneFiddle, pp. 13-14, "Come All You Roman Catholics" (1 text)
  2. McBride 28, "Father McFadden" (1 text, 1 tune)
  3. Roud #9459
  4. BI, TSF013

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 979 (Tunney-StoneFiddle)
Found in: Ireland