Sweet County Wexford

Melody -

On Moniseed of a summer's morning,
Our boys they halted a rest to take,
When the ancient Britons, in their uniform,
Upon Sliav Beag, a great show did make.
The Gorey cavalry that day did join them,
They were on a bloody bent,
But soon our boys, they did engage them,
They little thought that their glass was spent.

2. As they from Gorey set out that morning,
You'd pity the groans and the women's tears;
But on that day we made them pay,
When they came in view of our Shelmaliers.
'Twas from the watch-house in to Ballyellis
To Pavy's height going towards Carnew,
It's there we had a great engagement,
Such other pikemen you never knew.

3. 'Twas early, early on the next morning,
To Ballarahan we took our way,
To meet with Gowan and his cursed yeomen,
To them it was a woeful day.
Cowardly Gowan when he saw us coming,
Turned round and away from us did run,
Like a hunted fox he crossed over the rocks,
When he saw the flash of a croppy's gun.

4. We then shot Chamny and Captain Dixon,
And General Walpole got no time to run,
And long Smyth, the slater - the bloody traitor,
He fell that day by a croppy's gun.
When this engagement was all over,
And our brave boys had no more to do,
We crossed Brideswell going to Camolin,
And camped that night at Carrigrua.

5. Had we the wisdom to follow after,
And not have tarried in Gorey town,
We'd have saved the lives of many a martyr,
That died in Arklow - God rest their souls.
Success attend the sweet County Wexford,
They are the boys that were ne'er afraid
Of Ancient Britons nor bragging yeomen,
But on such cowards great slaughter made.

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