Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BATTLE OF LIMERICK (AUGUST 27, 1690), by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS Poet's Biography 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 Luimneach linn-ghlas. 'Tis afternoon, yet hot the sun, When William fires the signal gun, And, like its flash, his columns run On the city of Luimneach linn-ghlas. 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 Luimneach linn-ghlas. Across the ditch the columns dash, Their bayonets o'er the rubbish flash, When sudden comes a rending crash From the city of Luimneach linn-ghlas. 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 Luimneach linn-ghlas. 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 Luimneach linn-ghlas 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 Luimneach linn-ghlas. The women fought before the men, Each man became a match for ten, So back they pushed the villains then, From the city of Luimneach linn-ghlas. 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 Luimneach linn-ghlas When, sudden, Sarsfield springs the mine, Like rockets rise the Germans fine, And come down dead, 'mid smoke and shine, At the city of Luimneach linn-ghlas. 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 Luimneach linn-ghlas '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 Luimneach linn-ghlas. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CLARE'S DRAGOONS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS FONTENOY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF EOGHAN RUADH (OWEN ROE) O'NEIL by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS NATIONALITY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE BOATMAN OF KINSALE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE FLOWER OF FINAE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE SACK OF BALTIMORE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE WELCOME by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A BALLAD OF FREEDOM by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A CHRISTMAS SCENE; OR, LOVE IN THE COUNTRY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS |
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