Paud O'Donoghue
Lyrics
Bold Padraig was as strong a boy as ever a hammer swung
The finest hurler that you’d find the lads of Meath among
And when the wrestling match was o’er, no man could boast he threw
The dark-haired smith of Curragha, young Paud O’Donoghue
Young Padraig lived a happy life and gaily sang each day
Beside his ringing anvil, some sweet old Irish lay
Or walked light-heartedly at eve through woods of lone Kilbrue
With her who’d given her pure heart’s love to Paud O’Donoghue
But ninety-eight’s dark season came and Irish hearts were sore
The pitch-cap, shears and triangle the patient folk out-bore
The blacksmith thought of Erin and found he’d work to do
`I’ll forge some steel for freedom’ said Paud O’Donoghue
The Yeos were in Dunshaughlin and the Hessions in Dunreagh
And spread thro’ fair Moynalty were the Fencibles of Reay
Though Roden’s bloody hunters raged from Skreen to Mullachoo
The pike-heads keen were hammered out by Paud O’Donoghue
And so each night in Curragha was heard the anvil’s ring
While scouting on the roadways were Hugh and Phelim King
With Gillie’s Pat and Foley’s Mat, and Micky Gilsenan, too
While in the forge for Ireland worked young Paud O’Donoghue
But a traitor crept among them, and the secret soon was sold
To the captain of the Yeomen for the ready Saxon gold
And a troop dashed out one evening from the woods of dark Kilbrue
And soon a rebel prisoner bound was Paud O’Donoghue
Now, Paddy Og, pray fervently, your earthly course has run
The captain, he has sworn you’ll not see the morrow’s sun
The muskets, they are ready and each yeoman’s aim is true
Death stands beside your shoulder, young Paud O’Donoghue
Notes
Paud O’Donoghue was a blacksmith in Co Meath in 1798 when the Irish were fighting for freedom. Britain regiments in Ireland at that of time were the Yeoman, the Hessians and the Fencibles
