“Ninety-Eight”

Description

"Ho! cease our mourning." The victories and defeats of 1798 are recalled. "Let the strife renew ... No longer dally, wake up and rally... What if defeated? Death comes -- then greet it -- Why all must meet it, aye, soon or late."

Notes

The "Ned of the Hill" is of course not Edmond O'Ryan, the hero of the song of that name, who died a century before 1798.

The timing of this call for rebellion is strange; by 1898, Irish nationalism had gone relatively quiet, and Gladstone had made his first attempts to pass Home Rule (though they had failed and cost the Liberals control of the British parliament). But, of course, there were always die-hards. - RBW

Cross references

  • cf. "Cappa Hill" (tune)
  • cf. "Anach Cuain" (tune)

References

  1. Moylan 74, "Ninety-Eight" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. BI, Moyl074

About

Author: "Ned of the Hill" (source: Moylan)
Earliest date: 1898 (according to Moylan)