On this page, you can see stories, songs and poems about Ireland and about the Irish in Canada.

 

   THE IRISH NATIONAL ANTHEM            

    

 

The Soldier's Song  
Written by Peadar Kearney, circa 1907

English translation:  
 
Soldier's Song
We'll sing a song, a soldier's song,  
With cheering rousing chorus,  
As round our blazing fires we throng,  
The starry heavens o'er us;  
Impatient for the coming fight,  
And as we wait the morning's light,  
Here in the silence of the night,   
We'll chant a soldier's song.  
 
Chorus: Soldiers are we  
whose lives are pledged to Ireland;  
Some have come  
from a land beyond the wave.  
Sworn to be free,  
No more our ancient sire land  
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.  
Tonight we man the gap of danger  
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal  
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal,  
We'll chant a soldier's song  
 
In valley green, on towering crag,  
Our fathers fought before us,  
And conquered 'neath the same old flag  
That's proudly floating o'er us.  
We're children of a fighting race,  
That never yet has known disgrace,  
And as we march, the foe to face,  
We'll chant a soldier's song  
 
Chorus 
Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!  
The long watched day is breaking;  
The serried ranks of Inisfail  
Shall set the Tyrant quaking.  
Our camp fires now are burning low;  
See in the east a silv'ry glow,  
Out yonder waits the Saxon foe,  
So chant a soldier's song.  
 
Chorus
 
 
I thought perhaps the DIA members might be interested in knowing that the National Archives of Ireland (in partnership with the Canadian government) has digitised the Irish 1911 census for all 32 Counties in Ireland. It is FREE for anyone to view.
 
Ireland is unusual among English-speaking census-taking countries in that the original household manuscript returns survived. These are the forms filled out and signed by the head of each household on census night.
 
I think the DIA members will find it very exciting to look up their ancestors in the 1911 Irish Census and see their grandparent's, or greatgrandparent's handwriting and signature. Here's the link:  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/
 
Enjoy!
Frances