Laments

Four Green Fields

"What did I have?" said the fine old woman
"What did I have?" this proud old woman did say
"I had four green fields, each one was a jewel
But strangers came and tried to take them from me
I had fine strong sons, they fought to save my jewels
They fought and died, and that was my grief" said she

"Long time ago" said the fine old woman
"Long time ago" this proud old woman did say
"There was war and death, plundering and pillage
My children starved by mountain valley and sea
And their wailing cries, they shook the very heavens
My four green fields ran red with their blood" said she

"What have I now?" said the fine old woman
"What have I now?" this proud old woman did say
"I have four green fields, one of them's in bondage
In stranger's hands, that tried to take it from me
But my sons have sons, as brave as were their fathers
My fourth green field will bloom once again" said she

Music by Tommy Makem, words based on the play 'Cathleen ni Houlihan' by W B Yeats.

There is also a mourning song for the "Lost Chieftains of TyrConnell". The song laments the loss of the Earls to Gaelic Ireland. Red Hugh O'Donnell died in Spain while trying to raise support for the Irish against the English. His successor Rory participated in the Flight of the Earls.

The Lost Chieftains

The lost Chieftains of Tyrconnell
Red Hugh and Aodh Rory too
They were the stalwarts in the gap of danger
Defenders of the northern Gaels
Chieftains of Tyrconnell no more

Ruadh Red Hugh O'Donnell,
The eagle of the north
He was the scourge of the Saxon armies
often putting them to the sword
A Chieftain of Tyrconnell no more

The lost Chieftains of Tyrconnell
Red Hugh and Aodh Rory too

Links

About Ireland

Irish History

Learn Gaelic

Irish Roots