Happy Saint Patrick's Day from the Volunteers of Ireland!

The Volunteers of Ireland wish a Great and Glorious Saint Patrick's Day and take this opportunity to share with you their War-Song, first sung in the year of our Lord 1780 by Barny Tompson, piper to the Volunteers of Ireland.

"Success to the Shamrogue"

SUCCESS to the shamrogue, and all those who wear it,
Be honour their portion wherever they go,
May riches attend them, and store of good claret,
For how to employ them sure none better know;
Every foe surveys them with terror,
But every silk petticoat wishes them nearer,
So Yankee keep off, or you’ll soon learn your error,
For Paddy shall prostrate lay ev’ry foe.

This day, (but the year I can’t rightly determine)
St. Patrick the vipers did chase from this land,
Let’s see if like him we can’t sweep off the vermin
Who dare ‘gainst the sons of the shamrogue to stand;
Hand in hand! let’s carrol this chorus,
   “As long as the blessings of Ireland hang o’er us,
   “The crest of rebellion shall tremble before us,
   “Like brothers while thus we march hand in hand!”

St. George & St. Patrick, St. Andrew, St. David,
Together may laugh at all Europe in arms,
Fair conquest her standard has o’er their heads waved
And glory has on them conferr’d all her charms!
War’s alarms! to us are a pleasure,
Since honour our danger repays in full measure,
And all those who join us shall find we have leisure,
To think of our sport ev’n in war’s alarms!

Text of this song graciously made available by the Loyalist Institute at http://royalprovincial.com/history/music/voisong.shtml


A post about the uniform and history of the Volunteers of Ireland will be forthcoming