The ballad tells the story of one victim of Colonial 'justice', where a sentence without compassion compounded the misery of the Famine by cruel application of the law.
The song narrates the horrible story of one aspect of the heartless colonial system, where helpless orphans were abused and seen as breeding animals at the behest of the aristocracy.
Irish Liberty
Ye friends of Irish Liberty and sons of Granuaile
Be not afraid of England’s bull, his horns, his head or tail;
He’s but a shadow on the grass reflected from a tree,
So break the branches bare, brave boys, and plant the…
By the setting of the sun as my daily work was done and I wandered my way down the shore
As I went on alone I sat down upon a stone for to gaze on the work of the Lord.
I have travelled all around through city, state and town but no landscape can…
You may sing about Killarney and the homes of Donegal
But one place is so dear to me, it’s the very best of all.
The place that I return to no matter where I roam,
It’s that little spot in Carlow, It’s my Ballinabranna Home.