Lament for James O'Toole
Author: Mary Brennan
Singer: Margaret O'Toole

Lament for James O'Toole
Author: Mary Brennan
Singer: Margaret O'Toole

Theme: Patriotic hero, local event
Location: South Carlow, North-east Carlow
James O'Toole was another sad victim of the Irish Civil war; he died at Shean near Myshall in 1922, together with Miley Carroll.

There is sorrow round the sallies now,
For a brave young lad is gone.
The O’Toole’s home is lonely now,
That once was bright and gay.

His mother’s heart is broke
For the loss of a darling son,
And the father he’s bent with grief,
Likewise his brother Tom.

No more they’ll hear his merry laugh
Or kiss his manly brow.
They may call for him, but it’s all in vain,
He cannot hear them now.

They didn’t know what pain he felt,
Nor did they see him die,
They were not allowed to ease that sigh
To say a last goodbye.

His life was short, we must allow,
But he did obey the call.
O God, so good and merciful
Have mercy on us all.

Hundreds were at his funeral
It was a glorious scene:
The coffin wrapped in Erin’s flag,
The yellow, white and green.

At Craneran’s lonely grave yard
His body was laid low:
No more his parents or his friends
A happy hour will know.

His grave with wreaths was covered
From friends and comrades true
And it was a fitting tribute
For a lad so good and true.

The last post was sounded,
Full tributes for to pay,
And it’s there we laid him down to rest
Until the judgement day.

He was a brave young soldier lad
‘Tis for Ireland’s cause he died
And his comrade Miley Carroll
As they both fought side by side.

Now Christ who died for love of men
Have mercy on their souls
May Jim Toole’s name in history shine
Upon the martyr’s roll.