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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BATTLE OF LIMERICK (AUGUST 27, 1690) by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS

First Line: OH, HURRAH! FOR THE MEN, WHO, WHEN DANGER IS NIGH
Last Line: AS THE BATTLE OF LUIMNEACH LINN-GHLAS.
Subject(s): IRELAND - REBELLIONS; LIMERICK, BATTLE OF (1690);
I.

OH, hurrah! for the men, who, when danger is nign,
Are found in the front, looking death in the eye.
Hurrah! for the men who kept Limerick's wall,
And hurrah! for bold Sarsfield, the bravest of all.
King William's men round Limerick lay
His cannon crashed from day to day,
Till the southern wall was swept away
At the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas.@1
'Tis afternoon, yet hot the sun,
When William fires the signal gun,
And, like its flash, his columns run
On the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas.@1

II.

Yet, hurrah! for the men, who, when danger is nigh,
Are found in the front, looking death in the eye.
Hurrah! for the men who kept Limerick's wall,
And hurrah! for bold Sarsfield, the bravest of all.
The breach gaped out two perches wide,
The fosse is filled, the batteries plied;
Can the Irishmen that onset bide
At the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas.@1
Across the ditch the columns dash,
Their bayonets o'er the rubbish flash,
When sudden comes a rending crash
From the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas.@1

III.

Then, hurrah! for the men, who, when danger is nigh
Are found in the front, looking death in the eye.
Hurrah! for the men who kept Limerick's wall,
And hurrah! for bold Sarsfield, the bravest of all.
The bullets rain in pelting shower,
And rocks and beams from wall and tower
The Englishmen are glad to cower
At the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas.@1
But, rallied soon, again they pressed,
Their bayonets pierced full many a breast,
Till they bravely won the breach's crest
At the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas@1

IV.

Yet, hurrah! for the men, who, when danger is nigh,
Are found in the front, looking death in the eye,
Hurrah! for the men who kept Limerick's wall,
And hurrah! for bold Sarsfield, the bravest of all.
Then fiercer grew the Irish yell,
And madly on the foe they fell,
Till the breach grew like the jaws of hell --
Not the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas.@1
The women fought before the men,
Each man became a match for ten,
So back they pushed the villains then,
From the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas.@1

V.

Then, hurrah! for the men, who, when danger is nigh,
Are found in the front, looking death in the eye
Hurrah! for the men who kept Limerick's wall,
And hurrah! for bold Sarsfield, the bravest of all.
But Bradenburgh the ditch has crost,
And gained our flank at little cost --
The bastion's gone -- the town is lost;
Oh! poor city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas@1
When, sudden, Sarsfield springs the mine,
Like rockets rise the Germans fine,
And come down dead, 'mid smoke and shine,
At the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas.@1

VI.

So, hurrah! for the men, who, when danger is nlgn,
Are found in the front, looking death in the eye.
Hurrah! for the men who kept Limerick's wall,
And hurrah! for bold Sarsfield, the bravest of all.
Out, with a roar, the Irish sprung,
And back the beaten English flung
Till William fled, his lords among,
From the city of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas@1
'Twas thus was fought that glorious fight,
By Irishmen, for Ireland's right --
May all such days have such a night
As the battle of @3Luimneach linn-ghlas@1.



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