Patriot Game - Dominic Behan (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins
"The Patriot Game", originally released in 1958, was written by Dominic Behan about an incident during the Border Campaign launched by the IRA during the 1950s. It tells the story of Fergal O'Hanlon, an IRA Volunteer from Monaghan Town, County Monaghan who was killed at the age of 20 in an attack on Brookeborough RIC barracks in County Fermanagh on January 1st, 1957, led by Seán Garland, an IRA man from Dublin and accompanied in his sacrifice by Seán South from Limerick, was also killed during the raid.
"Behan later became close friends with Seán Garland, officiating as the best man at Garland's wedding. Behan had been involved with the IRA before writing the song but he did not support the continuing campaign of the IRA at the time, and altered the first verse from his initial lyrics to distance himself from nationalism."
Lyrics (some admittedly altered from Behan's original set):
Come all ye young rebels and list while I sing
For love of one's country is a terrible thing
It banishes fear like the speed of a flame
And it makes you a part of the patriot's game
My name is O'Hanlon, I've just gone sixteen
My home is in Monaghan and where I was weaned
I've been told all my life cruel England's to blame
So I am part of the patriot's game
It's barely two years since I wandered away
With a local battalion of the bold IRA
I've read of our heroes, I've wanted the same
For the play out my part in the patriot's game
They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair
His wounds from the battle all bleeding and bare
His fine body twisted, all tattered and lame
They soon made me part of the patriot's game
This Ireland of ours has for long been half free
Six counties are under John Bull's tyranny
And most of our leaders are greatly to blame
For shirking their part in the patriot's game
Now as I lie here, my body all holes
I think of the traitors who bargained and sold
I'm wish that my rifle had given the same
For the Quislings who sold out the patriot game