Browse Items · From Carlow Streams

The Battle of Carlow A.D. 1798
Author: W. O'N. (possibly Slieve Margy?)
From The Nationalist, 18/09/1897.

A morning fair, o’erarched with skies of May,
Broke over files of men in stern array-
By wrongs made reckless – to avenge the flood –
The seething torrent of their tears and blood
By England’s hell-hounds shed. The sunbeams fell
On…

Tags: County Carlow, Liberty, Local event, Patriotic Hero

The Blacks and Whites Dressed in Glory
Author: Luke Morrissey

The 'Blacks & Whites' Dressed in Glory, L. morrissey.jpg

Location: South Carlow
Here Luke lists the exploits of the individual heroes.

Tags: Carlow South, Local Hero, Morrissey L, Sporting Hero

The Blooming Flower of Grange

Tags: Carlow East, Love

The Bog of Sweet Rossmore
Author: Unknown

Tags: Carlow West, Rice, Social Comment, Social Event

The Bogs of Rathnagry
Author: W. Byrne

Theme: Local Event
Retrospective song about the burning of the bogs of Rathnagry by the men of Carlow.

Tags: Byrne W, Carlow North, Local event, Social Comment

The Bogs of Rathnagry
Author: W. Byrne

Location: North-east Carlow
A nostalgic piece about rural life during 'The Emergency', with some cameos of life at the time.

Tags: Byrne W, Carlow North, Local event, Social Comment

The Boys of '63
Author: Willie White

Location: East Carlow, Clonegal

Tags: Carlow East, Sporting Hero, White W

The Carlow Blues

Location: Carlow town
O'Hanrahan's, often known as 'The Blues', is based in Carlow Town and have a long history of good football teams. This text is a jocose 'dig' at a robust style of play!

Tags: Author Unknown, Carlow Town, Fun, Sporting Hero

The Carlow Farmer's Ball
Author: John Hayden

Theme: Fun, with a glimpse of life in the past. Song for fun written by John Hayden telling of the Carlow Farmer's Ball.

Air: MacNamara's Ball

Tags: Carlow County, Fun, Hayden J, Local event, Social Comment

The Carlow Fifteen
Authors; Tommy Lynch and P.J. Furey

In 1944, Carlow made sporting history by winning their only Leinster Senior Football Championship, defeating Dublin in the final. This momentous victory was immortalized in verse by P.J. Furey, capturing the excitement, pride, and determination of that legendary team. Below is the full transcription of his poem, celebrating the Carlow fifteen and their unforgettable triumph.

In the year Forty-four towards the end of July, 
The great Leinster final was played in Athy. 
This game of fine football was listed between, 
The boys from the Liffey and the Carlow fifteen.

Oh! I'll never forget till the day that I die, 
Of the crowds that went travelling that day to Athy, 
They peddled and walked it, excitement was keen, 
By the many supporters of the Carlow fifteen.

There were horses and ponies and jennets and traps, 
For most of the journey not caring two raps, 
There were donkeys came trotting down every boreen, 
With their ears to attention for the Carlow fifteen.

O'er the mountains of Leinster the cheers rose and fell, 
As Dublin played strongly and Carlow right well, 
When the tin whistle sounded the score board was seen, 
To be down in the figures for the Carlow fifteen.

As the crowd held their breath and the great climax came, 
It was whispered all over that Dublin held game, 
But none ever thought of the scoring machine, 
The forward division of the Carlow fifteen.

What change in the last half did the minutes unroll, 
As the boys from the Barrow kept swarming the goal, 
It was blue in an old spot, but red, gold and green, 
Were the colours of victory for the Carlow fifteen.

Now we'll crown every player with a gay flowered wreath, 
Made from cauliflowers and onions and sugar beet, 
There will be smiles on the features of dark Rosaleen, 
Decorating the boys of the Carlow fifteen.

As the years creep upon me, I'm wrinkled and grey, 
There are times that I gossip and times that I pray, 
I will sit by my fireside and puff my dudeen, 
And go with my thoughts on the team fondly stray.

Jim Quinlan the goalie was the best in his day, 
Jim Archbold, Joyce, and Lawlor full-back, 
Whelan and Farrell and O'Rourke weren’t slack.

Centre field was Luke Kelly and Jim Morris of fame, 
Mickey Byrne and Hosey and Moore were all game, 
But Sullivan, Doyle and Jerma near were green, 
Proud champions of Leinster were the Carlow fifteen.

Location: Carlow county
Praise for the hope the heroes of 1944 brought to Carlow in that glorious era
The two texts show how songs were added to or amended slightly, part of the oral tradition.

Tags: Carlow County, Furey PJ, Local event, Lynch T, Sporting Hero

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