#athenry

“When an Orangeman dies he goes down below

The worms eat his flesh and the devil takes his soul

The gates of hell fly open and the devil jumps for joy

For there is nothing he likes better than a stout Orange boy.”

This is a lively Irish song about the Orange Order. But the lyrics are very applicable to the stout orange man in the White House today. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Many of the men of Erin all, around the great plain— Many sons of kings, whom I name not, were slain in the great defeat: Sorrowful to my heart is the conflict of the host of Midhe and Mumha. On the day of St Laurence the martyr these deeds were committed; and Fedlim was twenty-three years old when slain; and he had been five years in the sovereignty of Connacht when Ruaidhri, son of Cathal…

Today Athenry, County Galway is best known for featuring in a lachrymose ballad usually sung by performers somewhat worse for alcohol. However, the town was of significance from the Middle Ages onwards, as evidenced by large sections of the mediaeval walls that still survive, and a number of important buildings in the centre, not least a castle dating from c.1235. Originally guarding the crossing…

#OTD in 1316 – Battle of Athenry | Irish rising in support of Edward the Bruce of Scotland.

Many of the men of Erin all, around the great plain— Many sons of kings, whom I name not, were slain in the great defeat: Sorrowful to my heart is the conflict of the host of Midhe and Mumha. On the day of St Laurence the martyr these deeds were committed; and Fedlim was twenty-three years old when slain; and he had been five years in the sovereignty of Connacht when Ruaidhri, son of Cathal…