Sean South Of Garyowen

Sad are the homes 'round Garryowen

Since lost their joy and pride

And the banshee cry links every vale

Along the Shannon's side

That city of the ancient walls

Unbroken city stone

Undying fame surround your name

Sean South of Garryowen

Twas on a dreary New Year's Eve

As the shades of night came down

A lorry-load of volunteers

Approached the border town

There were men from Dublin and from Cork

Fermanagh and Tyrone

And the leader was a Limerick man

Sean South from Garryowen

And as they moved along the street

Up to the barracks door

They scorned the danger they might face

Their fate that lay in store

They were fighting for Old Ireland

To claim their very own

And the foremost of this gallant band

Was South from Garryowen

But the sergeant spoiled their daring plan

He spied them through the door

The sten guns and the rifles

A hail of death did pour

And when that awful night was past

Two men lay as cold as stone

There was one from near the border

And one from Garryowen

No more he'll hear the seagulls cry

Or the murm'ring Shannon tide

For he fell beneath that northern sky

Brave Hanlon by his side

He has gone to join that gallant band

Of Plunkett, Pearse and Tone

A martyr for Old Ireland

Sean South from Garryowen