Kelly the Boy from Killane

What's the news?
What's the news, o me bold Shelmalier
With your long barrelled guns from the sea?
Say, what wind from the south brings a messenger here
With this hymn of the down for the free?
Goodly news, goodly news do I bring youth of Forth
Goodly news to you here Bargy man
For the boys march at dawn from the south to the north
Led by Kelly, the boy from Killane

Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair
He who rides at the head of the band?
Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare
And he looks like a king in command
Ah me boys that the pride of the bold Shelmalier
'Mongst our greatest of heroes, a man
Fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers
For John Kelly, the boy from Killane

Enniscorthy is in flames
And old Wexford is won
And the barrow, tomorrow we will cross
On the hill o're the town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateways at Ross
All the Forth men will march o'er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead in the van
But the foremost of all in the grim gap of death
Will be Kelly, the boy from Killane

But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
And beset by the Slaney's red wave
And poor Wexford stripped naked hung high on a cross
With her heart pierced by traitors and slaves
Glory-o glory-o to the brave sons who died
For the cause of long down-trodden man
Glory-o to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride
Daughtless Kelly, the boy from Killane