Martin Byrne

INTRODUCTION – LET ME CARRY YOUR CROSS FOR IRELAND

LET ME CARRY YOUR CROSS FOR IRELAND, LORD 
THE HOUR OF HER TRIAL DRAWS NEAR, 
AND THE PANGS AND THE PAINS OF THE SACRIFICE 
MAY BE BORNE BY COMRADES DEAR.

BUT, LORD, TAKE ME FROM THE OFFERING THRONG, 
THERE ARE MANY FAR LESS PREPARED, 
THROUGH ANXIOUS AND ALL AS THEY ARE TO DIE 
THAT IRELAND MAY BE SPARED.

LET ME CARRY YOUR CROSS FOR IRELAND, LORD 
MY CARES IN THIS WORLD ARE FEW. 
AND FEW ARE THE TEARS WILL FOR ME FALL 
WHEN I GO ON MY WAY TO YOU

FOR THE EMPTY HOMES OF HER GOLDEN PLAINS; 
FOR THE HOPES OF HER FUTURE, TOO! 
LET ME CARRY YOUR CROSS FOR IRELAND, LORD! 
FOR THE CAUSE OF ROISIN DUBH.

THOMAS ASHE

THE BALLAD OF THOMAS ASHE

FROM A HUMBLE LITTLE COTTAGE

NOT FAR FROM DINGLE TOWN

CAME A HERO PROUD AND TALL

FOR HISTORY WAS BOUND

A LOVER OF THE IRISH

AND A LEADER OF MEN

A SOLDIER AND A STATESMAN

A TEACHER AND A FRIEND

LET THE PIPER PLAY THE FIELDS OF MAY

OR THE FLOWER AMONG THEM ALL

FROM KILKELLY TO KINARD

AND ALL AROUND FINGAL

WE REMEMBER YOU BRAVE THOMAS ASHE

AS WE CELEBRATE YOUR LIFE

WHEN YOU CARRIED THE CROSS FOR IRELAND

YOU PAID THE HIGHEST PRICE

EASTER NINETEEN SIXTEEN

WHEN FREEDOM’S FLAG LAY TORN

YOU JOINED WITH LOYAL COMRADES

IN THE BATTLE OF ASHBOURNE

ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED

AND CRUELLY SENT AWAY

YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR THE LIBERTY

THAT WE ALL KNOW TODAY

RELEASED BUT THEN ONCE MORE INTERRED

YOUR RIGHTS THEY WERE DENIED

SHAMEFUL WAS THE CIRCUMSTANCE

AT THE HAND BY WHICH YOU DIED

BLACK RAVEN FLY UP TO THE SKY

AND TELL OF OUR GREAT LOSS

THOMAS ASHE IS GONE FOREVER

AR SON NA HEIREANN A BFUAIR SE BAS

MARTIN BYRNE