The Valley of Knockanure (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins
MY LINKS: linktr.ee/Sethswatkinsmusic
The Valley of Knockanure is an Irish ballad detailing the arrest and murder of three lads by the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) that occurred during the Irish War of Independence at Gortaglanna (Gortagleanna) near Knockanure, County Kerry, Ireland, written by teacher and poet Bryan MacMahon.
These lads were unarmed. The first to be shot was Jerry Lyons. Cornelius Dee decided to make a run for it. He immediately took a bullet in the thigh but managed to escape. The other two men were shot on the spot. Today a memorial stands by the roadside where the three died.
My cover was heavily inspired by that of Daoirí Farrell.
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
You may sing or speak about Easter week
Or the heroes of ninety-eight
Of the Fenian men who roamed the glen
In victory or defeat
Their names in history pages told
Their memories will endure
Not a song was sung of our darling sons
In the Valley of Knockanure
[Verse 2]
There were Walsh and Lyons and the Dalton boys
They were young and in their prime
As they rambled to a lonesome spot
Where the Black and Tans did lie
Republican bold they did uphold
Tho' outlawed on the moor
And side by side they fought and died
In the Valley of Knockanure
[Verse 3]
It was on a neighbouring hillside
We listened in calmed dismay
In every house, in every town
There kneeled a maid to pray
They're closing in around them now
With rifle fire so sure
And poor Dalton is down and Lyons is dead
In the Valley of Knockanure
[Verse 3]
So they took him down beyond the fence
Where the flowers were in full bloom
And they made him kneel down upon the grass
For to face his final doom
And then Dalton he spoke, as his voice it broke
With passion proud and pure
"Oh for Ireland I'll die as I face the sky"
In the Valley of Knockanure
[Verse 4]
Now the summer sun was setting now
Between the hills and the sea
And the pale pale moon was rising
Far out from Tralee town
And the dismal stars and the clouds afar
Are darkening o'er the moor
And the banshee cried as our sons they died
In the Valley of Knockanure