Sean South of Garryowen
Encyclopedia
“Sean South” is a song about Seán South
, a member of the Pearse Column, who was fatally wounded during the attack on Brookeborough
barracks in 1957. It is sung to the same tune as “Roddy McCorley
". The words were first published in the Irish Catholic
, the Irish weekly Roman Catholic newspaper, within a week of South's death.
Contrary to popular belief, South was not actually from the area of Garryowen
, this being poetic licence on the part of the writer. The song was written almost directly following the incident by Seamas O' Dufaigh, of Aghamor, Co. Mayo. Seamus was interviewed on the TG4 Gaelic language program "Comhra," on 13 February 2008. The song was translated into Swedish in 2008 by musicians Björn Alling and Conny Olsson. It has also been satirised in the Rubber Bandits rap song, "Up the Ra".
Seán South
Seán South was a member of an IRA military column led by Sean Garland on a raid against a Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland on New Year's Day, 1957...
, a member of the Pearse Column, who was fatally wounded during the attack on Brookeborough
Brookeborough
Brookeborough is a village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It lies between Enniskillen and Belfast just off the A4 trunk road, about five miles from the County Tyrone boundary....
barracks in 1957. It is sung to the same tune as “Roddy McCorley
Roddy McCorley
Roddy McCorley was a United Irishman and a participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.-Life:...
". The words were first published in the Irish Catholic
The Irish Catholic
The Irish Catholic is an Irish weekly Roman Catholic newspaper, providing news and commentary about the Roman Catholic Church. The 32-page tabloid paper is delivered worldwide....
, the Irish weekly Roman Catholic newspaper, within a week of South's death.
Contrary to popular belief, South was not actually from the area of Garryowen
Garryowen, Limerick
Garryowen is a neighbourhood in Limerick, Ireland. Contrary to common misconceptions, Garryowen Football Club, a prominent Rugby Union club in Ireland's AIB League is not located in the neighbourhood of Garryowen but rather in the Dooradoyle area of the Limerick Suburbs. Garryowen is home to the...
, this being poetic licence on the part of the writer. The song was written almost directly following the incident by Seamas O' Dufaigh, of Aghamor, Co. Mayo. Seamus was interviewed on the TG4 Gaelic language program "Comhra," on 13 February 2008. The song was translated into Swedish in 2008 by musicians Björn Alling and Conny Olsson. It has also been satirised in the Rubber Bandits rap song, "Up the Ra".