Rifles of the I.R.A. (song)

Last updated
"Rifles of the I.R.A."
Song
LanguageEnglish
Released1968
Genre Irish folk
Songwriter(s) Dominic Behan

"Rifles of the I.R.A." is an Irish folk song associated with the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. The song contains several references Irish historical events including the execution of Irish republican Kevin Barry, the Easter Rising and the Burning of Cork. [1]

Recordings

Artists and groups who have recorded the song include:

Related Research Articles

Armalite and ballot box was a political catchphrase used to define the strategy pursued by Irish republicans from 1981 up until the 1994 IRA ceasefire in which Sinn Féin ceased its policies of election boycott and abstentionism and instead contested elections in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, while the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) pursued an armed campaign to end Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael O'Riordan</span> Irish socialist

Michael O'Riordan was the founder of the Communist Party of Ireland (3rd) and also fought with the Connolly Column in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.

The Carrowkennedy ambush was an ambush carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 2 June 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. An IRA flying column, commanded by Michael Kilroy, ambushed a mobile patrol of the Royal Irish Constabulary including Black and Tans recruits at Carrowkennedy, near Westport, County Mayo. It resulted in the deaths of seven of the RIC, including some who were killed by their own rifle grenade. After two hours the RIC surrendered and their weaponry and ammunition were seized by the IRA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Breen</span> Irish republican and politician (1894–1969)

Daniel Breen was a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. In later years he was a Fianna Fáil politician.

Dominic Behan was an Irish writer, songwriter and singer from Dublin who wrote in Irish and English. He was also a socialist and an Irish republican. Born into the literary Behan family, he was one of the most influential Irish songwriters of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Volunteers</span> Unionist militia in Ireland

The Ulster Volunteers was an Irish unionist, loyalist paramilitary organisation founded in 1912 to block domestic self-government for Ireland, which was then part of the United Kingdom. The Ulster Volunteers were based in the northern province of Ulster. Many Ulster Protestants and Irish unionists feared being governed by a nationalist Catholic-majority parliament in Dublin and losing their links with Great Britain. In 1913, the militias were organised into the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and vowed to resist any attempts by the British Government to impose Home Rule on Ulster. Later that year, Irish nationalists formed a rival militia, the Irish Volunteers, to safeguard Home Rule. In April 1914, the UVF smuggled 25,000 rifles into Ulster from Imperial Germany. The Home Rule Crisis was interrupted by the First World War. Much of the UVF enlisted with the British Army's 36th (Ulster) Division and went to fight on the Western Front.

<i>The Wind That Shakes the Barley</i> (film) 2006 film directed by Ken Loach

The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a 2006 Irish war drama film directed by Ken Loach, set during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922–1923). Written by long-time Loach collaborator Paul Laverty, the film tells the fictional story of two County Cork brothers, Damien O'Donovan and Teddy O'Donovan, who join the Irish Republican Army to fight for Irish independence from the United Kingdom.

Provisional Irish Republican Army arms importation in forms of both firearms and explosives began in the early 1970s during the Troubles. With these weapons it conducted an armed campaign against the British state in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambush at Drumnakilly</span> Ambush

The Ambush at Drumnakilly was a military confrontation that took place at Drumnakilly in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland on 30 August 1988 during The Troubles, when a detachment of the Provisional IRA (IRA) was ambushed by the British Army.

"The Broad Black Brimmer" is an Irish Republican folk song written by Art McMillen.

The Coolavokig ambush was carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 25 February 1921, during the Irish War of Independence. It took place at Coolavokig, on the road between Macroom and Ballyvourney, County Cork. A 60-man flying column of the IRA's 1st Cork Brigade under Seán O'Hegarty, ambushed a 70-man convoy of the Auxiliary Division under Major Seafield Grant, sparking a four-hour battle. Ten Auxiliaries were killed, including Major Grant, and others wounded. The IRA column left the area when British reinforcements arrived. After the ambush, British forces stopped carrying out raids and patrols in the area.

"Belfast Brigade" is an Irish folk song, to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Armagh Sniper (1990–1997)</span> Sniping campaign against British security forces from 1990 to 1997

The South Armagh Sniper is the generic name given to the members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army's (IRA) South Armagh Brigade who conducted a sniping campaign against the British Army from 1990 to 1997. The campaign is notable for the snipers' use of .50 BMG calibre Barrett M82 and M90 long-range rifles in some of the shootings.

Pat of Mullingar is an Irish rebel song has been sung and recorded by several folk artists and groups, including the Irish Rovers, Derek Warfield, and The Wolfe Tones. The initial rendition of the song typically featured a portrayal of an Irish carman praising the exceptional attributes of his horse.

The FN FNC is a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed by the Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal and introduced in the late 1970s.

On 7 December 1985 the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) attacked the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) base at Ballygawley, County Tyrone. Two RUC officers were shot dead and the base was raked with gunfire before being destroyed by a bomb, which wounded a further three officers.

"My Brother Sylvest'" also known as "Big Strong Man", is an American song, but often performed by English folk singers and Irish bands.

<i>Rifles of the I.R.A.</i> 1970 studio album by The Wolfe Tones

Rifles of the I.R.A. is the fourth album by Irish folk and rebel band The Wolfe Tones. The album title Rifles of the I.R.A. makes reference to the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

References

  1. "Rifles Of The I.R.A. lyrics and chords". Irish folk songs.
  2. "Rifles of the IRA". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-03-21.