Christy Moore - Scariff Martyrs lyrics

The dreadful news through Ireland has
Spread from shore to shore
Such a deed no living man
Has ever heard before
The deeds of Cromwell in his time
I'm sure no worse could do
Than them Black and Tans that murdered
Those four youths in Killaloe

Three of the four were on the
Run and searched for all around
Until with this brave Egan
In Williamstown was found
They questioned him and tortured him but
To his comrades he proved true
And because he would not tell their
Whereabouts he was shot in Killaloe

On the twelfth day of November the
Day that they were found
Sold and traced through Galway to
That house near Williamstown
They never got a fighting chance
But were captured while asleep
And the way that they ill-treated them
Would cause your blood to creep
The hackled them both hands and feet
With twines they could not break
And brought them down to Killaloe
By steamer on the lake
Without clergy judge or jury on the
Bridge they shot them down
And their blood flowed with the
Shannon convenient to the town

After three days of perseverance their
Bodies they let go and ten pm the funeral
Passed through Ogonnolloe
They were kept in Scariff chapel for
Two nights and a day
Now in that place of rest they lie
Kind people for them pray

If you were at the funeral
It was an awful sight
To see four hundred clergymen and they
All dressed up in white
Such a sight as these four martyrs
In one grave was never seen
They died to save the flag of
Love the orange white and green

Now that they are dead and gone
I hope in peace they'll rest
Like all young Irish martyrs
Forever among the blessed
The day will come when all will
Know who sold their lives away
Of young McMahon and Rogers
Brave Egan and Kildea