Ballad - Garryown Heroes

The Gallant Limerick Militia ;
Or, Garryown Heroes.

You stout Irish heroes that ne'er was dismayed,
Or of any enemy was never yet afraid ;
Attend to my story, while shall unfold,
Our intrepid Limerick boys who are stout hearts of gold.
The fifth of Sept. the year eighty-nine,
The Rebels and French both together did join,
Naer the town of Sligo, our force to subdue
While balls they in showers were pouring like rain,
We stood them like Trojans and never did flinch,
Tho' they were ten to one boys we ne'er gave an inch.
But being outnumbered were forced to retreat.
We still fought like lions, ne'er feared a defeat.
We are the boys that did clearly make known,
That we were loyal heroes of bold Garryown.
And ravage our country and make ue to rue.

Brave Colonel Vereker, appriz'd their scheme,
Went with his Limerick heroes those gallants of fame,
Who was always courageous and still did make known
That they would shew them play as from sweet Garryowen,
Our foes at Coloony assembled they were,
And to salute them we straight did repairm
We gave to them a breakfast, and speedily make known,
We were the rare heroes of sweet garryown.
We fought them two hours, and our pass did maintain,
Vereker our brave Colonel may God him preserve,
Who made it his study his men to reserve
To face those proud Frenchmen and rebels also,
We shew'd Limerick heroes could give 'em a blow.
And now to conclude boys we'll for ever sing,
A health to brace Vereker and great George our King,
Likewise our gallant Limerick boys that did make known,
They were all gallant heroes from sweet Garryown.

from small book Lord Howe's Victory over the French to which is added The Gallant Limerick Militia,
published in Limerick, 1800, by W. Goggin