School: Oldcastle (C.) (roll number 12489)

Location:
Oldcastle, Co. Meath
Teacher:
Máire D. Ní Nualláin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0716, Page 048

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0716, Page 048

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  1. XML School: Oldcastle (C.)
  2. XML Page 048
  3. XML “The Bridge of Finea”

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  1. (continued from previous page)
    'Twas a fine sight to see them all marching
    And gallant and fair to behold,
    Their spears in the bright sunlight shining
    And the red flag of Britain unrolled
    None braver e'er marched into battle
    Than mustered that day for the fray,
    Than the clans that the Scottish chief rallied
    That day on the Bridge of Finea.
    IV
    But here on the bridge stood O'Reilly,
    "The Slasher" from Cavan's green side;
    Around him blazed many a sabre
    And above him his banner spread wide.
    Scant greeting had he for the Briton
    Who came in the guise of a foe,
    And stout were the hearts that would meet them
    They knew well the might of his blow.
    V
    Benburb heard the cry of the trooper.
    And the Blackwater rang to it's shout,
    When the army of Red Owen in vengeance
    Put the Scot and the Saxon to rout
    And now ever foremost in battle
    He braves the stout hosts of Munroe,
    And stands in the vanguard of danger
    With his troops all arranged in a row.
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Language
    English