Sad are the homes around Garryowen, since they lost their gal land pride, but the banshee cry, rings every vale along the Shannon side, that city of the ancient walls, the broken treaty stone, on dying fame surrounds your name Sean South From Garryowen. It[D] was on a dreary new year's eve as the[G] shades of night came[D] down, A[D] lorry load of[G] volun[D]teers approched the border [A]town, There was[D] men from Dublin[G] and from [D]Cork,Fermanagh[G] and Ty[A]rone, And their[D] leader was a Limerick man Sean[G] South from[D] Garryowen [2] And as they moved along the streets up to the barrack door, They scorned the danger they might face,the fate that lay in store, They were fighting for old Ireland,to claim their very own, And the foremost of that gallant band was South from Garryowen. [3] But the sergent foiled their daring plan,he spied them through the door, Then the Sten guns and the rifles a hail of death did pour, And when that auful night was past,two men lay as cold as stone, There was one from near the border,and one from Garryowen. [3] No more he'll hear the seagull cry o're the murmuring Shannon tide, For he fell beneath a Northern sky,brave Hanlon by his side, They have gone to join that gallant band of Plunkett Pearse and Tone, A martyr for old Ireland,Sean South from Garryowen He was born in limerick city where the shannon waters flow A lad of princely bearing, as everybody knows He loved his native language, because it was his own Oh let irishmen ne'er forget Sean south of garryowen As christmas eve was dawning near he faced our ancient foe But many had greeted him that day for few had seen him go But when his reddled body Came home to rest amoung his own There were thousands there to welcome back Sean South from Garryowen The wee ones in Fermanagh homes Are asking where your gone Where is the red haired soldier now who spoke our Gaelic tongue Beside the fire he drew for us and spoke of Pearse and Tone Oh mammt will we meet again Sean South from Garryowen A Sheain a ghra your resting now with Ireland's noble dead While Ulster fields are crimson with the blood you gladly shed May the God who reigns in heaven take you to his kingly throne And may Irishmen remember well Sean South from Garryowen
Taken from The Republican paper , 'The United Irishman' in 1957. The writer remains unknown as with many rebel song writers,