Leanaigí Fiach go Catharlagh / Follow Me Up to Carlow
Fonn: Follow Me Up To Carlow
Údair: Dave Barron (Gaeilge), P.J. McCall (English)

Leanaigí Fiach go Catharlagh / Follow Me Up to Carlow
Fonn: Follow Me Up To Carlow
Údair: Dave Barron (Gaeilge), P.J. McCall (English)

Múch Mac Cahir Óg do bhrón,
Ná bí ag gol ‘s ologón
Toisc ruathar mór Fitzwilliam dú
Scrios baile is do theaghlach.
Bhí smaointe bua I gcloigeann Gray,
Ba ghearr go mbrisfear arm na nGael
Go dtí gur bhuail I nGleann Uí Mháill
Le Fiach Mac Hugh O’Byrne.

CURFÁ
Mionnaí móra ó na Gall,
Sleá ‘s claidheamh I ngreim na nGael
Le geall ar Saoirse, bás nó saor;
Óglaigh, fíachmhar, cróga.
Éirigí suas mo laochra Gael,
Cuir as ár dtír na míolra Gall,
Bain taithneamh as lá nua saor,
Leanaigí Fiach go Catharlagh.

Féach na Gael I nGleann Uí Mháill
Ag scanradh lucht na nGall sa Pale;
Óglaigh Gaeil le fonn ar fuil
Na Gallaibh bocht a stealladh.
Ní ghlachfaidh Gael le masla Gall,
Is laochra iad gan meas ar feall,
Glanfaidh said Éire ‘nois gan moill,
Sean tír ár sinsir feasta.
CURFÁ

Ó Tassagart go Cluain Mór
Tá laochra Gael na Gall ag scoir;
Maith thú Rory Óg O Moore
Ag scrios na Gallaibh millte.
Tá White faoi brú, Lane ag éalú
Na Sasanaigh uilig faoi brú;
Seolfaimíd ceann Fitzwilliam dú
I mbosca beag go Liza.
CURFÁ

O Lift MacCahir Óg your face, brooding o'er the old disgrace
That black Fitzwilliam stormed your place and sent you to the Fern
Grey said victory was sure, soon the firebrand he'd secure
Until he met at Glenmalure with Fiach Mac Hugh O'Byrne

[Chorus]
Curse and swear Lord Kildare
Fiach will do what Fiach will dare
Now Fitzwilliam, have a care
Fallen is your star, low
Up with Halbert, on with sword
On we'll go for by the Lord
Fiach MacHugh has given the word
Follow me up to Carlow

O see the swords of Glen Imayle, flashing o'er the English Pale
See all the children of the Gael, beneath O’Byrne’s banners
Rooster of the fighting stock, would you let the Saxon cock
Crow out upon an Irish rock, fly up and teach him manners

[Chorus]

From Tassagart to Cluain Mhór there flows the stream of Saxon gore
O, great is Rory Óg O’More, for sending loons to Hades
For White is sick and Grey has fled and now for black Fitzwilliam's head
We'll send it over dripping red, to Liza and her ladies

[Chorus]

B'as Cluain Mhór in oirthear Chontae Cheatharlach d'athair P.J. McCall. Scríobh PJ go leor amhrán ó thraidisiún streachailt na hÉireann ar son na saoirse ó riail choilíneach. Tá sé seo ar cheann de na cinn is cáiliúla. Déanann an t-amhrán ceiliúradh ar bhua Fhiach Mac Hugh O'Byrne ar arm Sasanach i nGleann an Mhuirire sa bhliain 1580. Ba é Ceatharlach lárionad riaracháin Shasana i gceantar dheisceart na Paile, lena n-áirítear Cill Mhantáin anois agus dá bhrí sin bhí sé ina sprioc do na reibiliúnaithe Éireannacha. Ceaptar gurb é séis an amhráin an ceol iarbhír a sheinn píobairí Fiach agus iad ag máirseáil chun cath.

P.J. McCall’s father was from Clonmore in east County Carlow. PJ wrote many songs from the tradition of Ireland’s struggle for freedom from colonial rule. This is one of the most famous. The song celebrates the victory of Fiach Mac Hugh O’Byrne over an English army in Glenmalure in 1580. Carlow was the centre of English administration for the area of the southern Pale, including what is now Wicklow and was therefore a target for the Irish rebels. It is thought the melody for the song was the actual music played by Fiach’s pipers as they marched to battle.