The Rising of the Moon
Encyclopedia
"The Rising of the Moon" is an Irish ballad recounting a battle between the United Irishmen and the British Army
during the Irish Rebellion of 1798
.
The lyrics were written by John Keegan Casey
(1846-70), the "Fenian
Poet".
The ballad has been in circulation since circa 1865. The earliest verifiable date found in publication is 1867.
The ballad refers to the outbreak of the 1798 rebellion, as United Irish rebels convey the order to rise. The air of hope and optimism associated with the ultimately doomed rebellion was intended to provide inspiration for rebels preparing to take to the field in another ill-fated venture, the Fenian rebellion of 1867
.
Multiple variants of the lyrics have been published in folk music collections.
Often sung by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem among others, the song remains popular and the tune widely recognized in Ireland
today, as it is often taught in schools, played regularly at official and sporting events, and has been covered by a wide variety of musicians. The song was also covered by the American folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary on the album "See What Tomorrow Brings."
In the late 19th century, the ballad was also published through the printing of broadsides.
The ballad takes the tune of another Irish ballad, "The Wearing of the Green
" and was first published in Casey's 1866 collection of poems and songs A Wreath of Shamrocks.
ma bouchal: Irish language mo búacaill, my boy
pike: a long-poled thrusting spear
Shawn O'Ferrall/Shawn O'Farrell/Shane O'Farrell/Shaun O'Farrell
ma bouchal/my bohal
Verse 2 The men will be assembling at the river, the signal is set.
Verse 3 The assembly waits apprehensively.
banshee: Irish language bean sighe, fairy woman, an omen of death
chest/heart
blades/pikes
warning/morning
mudwall/mud-built
banshee's lonely croon/branches likely moan/branches loudly moan
Verse 4 The mass commences the assault, bearing the flag of the United Irishmen.
green: banner of the rebel group, its predominate color
Verse 5 The uprising fails, yet freedom's desire lives in the next generation.
bitter was their fate/better was their faith
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
.
Description
The ballad's singer is told that the "pikes must be together at the rising of the moon" to engage in rebellion. The pikemen gather, but are defeated. Despite the loss, the listener is told that there are those will "follow in their footsteps" to again revolt.The lyrics were written by John Keegan Casey
John Keegan Casey
John Keegan 'Leo' Casey , known as the Poet of the Fenians, was an Irish poet, orator, novelist and Republican who was famous as the writer of the song "The Rising of the Moon" and as one of the central figures in the Fenian Rising of 1867. He was imprisoned by the English and died on St...
(1846-70), the "Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
Poet".
The ballad has been in circulation since circa 1865. The earliest verifiable date found in publication is 1867.
The ballad refers to the outbreak of the 1798 rebellion, as United Irish rebels convey the order to rise. The air of hope and optimism associated with the ultimately doomed rebellion was intended to provide inspiration for rebels preparing to take to the field in another ill-fated venture, the Fenian rebellion of 1867
Fenian Rising
The Fenian Rising of 1867 was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland, organised by the Irish Republican Brotherhood .After the suppression of the Irish People newspaper, disaffection among Irish radical nationalists had continued to smoulder, and during the later part of 1866 IRB leader James...
.
Multiple variants of the lyrics have been published in folk music collections.
Often sung by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem among others, the song remains popular and the tune widely recognized in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
today, as it is often taught in schools, played regularly at official and sporting events, and has been covered by a wide variety of musicians. The song was also covered by the American folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary on the album "See What Tomorrow Brings."
In the late 19th century, the ballad was also published through the printing of broadsides.
The ballad takes the tune of another Irish ballad, "The Wearing of the Green
The Wearing of the Green
"The Wearing of the Green" is an anonymously-penned Irish street ballad dating to 1798. The context of the song is the repression around the time of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Wearing a shamrock in the "caubeen" was a sign of rebellion and green was the colour of the Society of the United...
" and was first published in Casey's 1866 collection of poems and songs A Wreath of Shamrocks.
Overview, terms, and variants
Verse 1 The singer is told that men armed with pikes are gathering for an attack at moonrise.ma bouchal: Irish language mo búacaill, my boy
pike: a long-poled thrusting spear
Shawn O'Ferrall/Shawn O'Farrell/Shane O'Farrell/Shaun O'Farrell
ma bouchal/my bohal
Verse 2 The men will be assembling at the river, the signal is set.
Verse 3 The assembly waits apprehensively.
banshee: Irish language bean sighe, fairy woman, an omen of death
chest/heart
blades/pikes
warning/morning
mudwall/mud-built
banshee's lonely croon/branches likely moan/branches loudly moan
Verse 4 The mass commences the assault, bearing the flag of the United Irishmen.
green: banner of the rebel group, its predominate color
Verse 5 The uprising fails, yet freedom's desire lives in the next generation.
bitter was their fate/better was their faith