John Kelly of Killanne
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John Kelly (Kelly of Killanne) (died 21 June 1798) was a United Irish leader who fought in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
While Kelly was obviously well known to rebel and loyalist alike during the short duration of the Wexford rising, almost nothing is known of him outside this time. He was one of the leaders of the rebel victory at the Battle of Three Rocks which led to the capture of Wexford town but was later seriously wounded while leading a rebel column at the Battle of New Ross (1798). He was moved to Wexford to recuperate but was dragged from his bed and hanged by British soldiers who allegedly decapitiated his corpse and kicked his head through the streets following the fall of Wexford on June 21st 1798.
[edit] Ballad
His exploits are commemorated in the famous Irish ballad Kelly of Killanne written by Patrick Joseph McCall (1861-1919) who also wrote Boolavogue and Follow me up to Carlow.
What's the news, what's the news O my bold Shelmalier?,
With your long-barrelled gun of the sea?
Say what wind from the south blows his messenger here
With a hymn of the dawn for the free?
"Goodly news, goodly news, do I bring, youth of Forth;
Goodly news shall you hear, Bargy man!
For the boys march at morn from the South to the North,
Led by Kelly, the Boy from Killanne!"
"Tell me who is that giant with gold curling hair -
He who rides at the head of your band?
Seven feet is his height, with some inches to spare,
And he looks like a king in command!" -
"Ah, my lads, that's the pride of the bold Shelmaliers,
'Mongst our greatest of heroes, a Man! -
Fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers
For John Kelly, the Boy from Killanne!"
Enniscorthy's in flames, and old Wexford is won,
And tomorrow the Barrow we will cross,
On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateways to Ross.
All the Forth men and Bargy men march o'er the heath,
With brave Harvey to lead on the van;
But the foremost of all in the grim Gap of Death
Will be Kelly, the Boy from Killanne!"
But the gold sun of Freedom grew darkened at Ross,
And it set by the Slaney's red waves;
And poor Wexford, stript naked, hung high on a cross,
With her heart pierced by traitors and slaves!
Glory O! Glory O! to her brave sons who died
For the cause of long-down-trodden man!
Glory O! to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride -
Dauntless Kelly, the Boy from Killanne!"
