The song "My Love: The O'Rahilly"

The Cork songwriter Mary Buckley-Clarke wrote a song about The O'Rahilly, "My Love: The O'Rahilly", in 2006.
The song is in the voice of The O'Rahilly's wife, Nancy Brown, mourning his loss in 1916.

Click to play the song "My Love: The O'Rahilly":

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Song and lyrics reproduced here with the kind permission of Mary Buckley-Clarke.
All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.
Lyrics by Mary Buckley-Clarke, music by Cliff Wedgbury, sung by Marie O'Neill.
The CD may be purchased from Mary Buckley-Clarke, Cork, (087) 699-5321.

Notes

The song was first played publicly on Fáilte Isteach, RTE Radio 1, 7th October 2006 (jump to 36:12).
There is one bit of poetic licence. It says O'Rahilly "Drove off down Herbert Road". The author says: "Just to confirm, the Herbert Rd is in fact Poetic Licence. I know it was 40 Herbert Park, but Park, with its vocal sound does not flow so well."
See also the air O Rathaille's Grave.

Lyrics

Fitzgerald called, he woke you.
The day I feared had come.
A loving hug, a final kiss,
Then Michael, you were gone.
I did not think of pleading,
Allegiance made you go,
With mustered guns all loaded
Drove off down Herbert Road.

For who can hold a candle
To patriotism's grip?
Or think of counting time back
When the mainspring starts to slip?
No power on earth could hold you,
Claimed it was your right.
'For you who helped to wind the clock
Must stay to hear it strike'

I recall the days of Asgard,
Your work, the plots and plans.
The downfall of poor Casement,
Another selfless man!
The time not of your making,
The Great War made it right,
Misjudged their time of rising,
Your honour forced the fight.

They tried to spare my grieving.
They brought your tender notes.
Mere whispers of your loving,
Small relics, treasured most.
Bemused by all the torment,
Believed our love supreme,
Small comfort that your paramour,
A country and her dream.

In sleep I saw Slieve Luchra,
Could hear your lilting song.
In tears I woke tormented,
Knew Darling then, you'd gone.
Fatherless our children,
With one as yet unborn.
Heartbroken, I a widow
Grim cost of freedom's dawn!

They saved your dying letter
Scrawled out at your last breath.
Self-styled as "The O'Rahilly"
Blood christened thus at death.
The only one to fall that week.
Had named it 'A Good Fight'
My love, who helped to wind the clock,
Had died to hear it strike

My love, who helped to wind the clock,
Had died to hear it strike

The 1916 Rising

The GPO after 1916.
Think public domain (e.g. used here).
If not, let me know.

O'Connell St, Dublin in the aftermath of 1916.
Image courtesy of Cork Multitext Project, UCC (see here). Used with permission.

Video

The 1916 Rising as portrayed in the movie Michael Collins (1996).
Search for more 1916 Rising videos.

The O'Rahilly's grave

The O'Rahilly's grave, Glasnevin. Photo 2006.
Note the grave simply says: "Ua Rathghaille". No other name.
Lists him as "Commander" of Óglaigh na hÉireann (the Irish Volunteers).
See full size and close-up.
Note grave of Harry Boland in background.
Photos courtesy of Richard Humphreys.
After 45 years without him, Nancy was finally buried with her husband in this grave in 1961.

Return to The O'Rahilly.

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