| lyric | Long ago in sweet kinsale Ireland lost her liberty
When King James had set his sail
Past the Sovereigns to the sea.
So the Wild Geese flew away;
Of their flight we sadly singm,
Sarsfield’s ships were on the say
And the Geese were onthe wing.
It was many years before
That the Spaniards quartered there
But the English beat O’Neill
And our Irish hopes lay bare.
It was vain for us to sing
Of O’Donnell’s bravery
When the Geese were on the wing
And the ships were on the sea.
For in Spain O’Donnell died
And in France King James was laid
And the shade of Erin grieved
That her cause had been betrayed
But the years of grief and tears
Brought the hope of O’Connell and Tone
And through Collins and thro’ Pearse
Ireland now has gained her own.
Where the Bandon meets the sea
Lies Kinsale so pleasant there
Quiet town and winding streets,
And the harbour waters fair:
For her country now is free,
There; is no more need to roam,
Little ships are on the sea
And the Geese can now come home. |