Art O'Donnell (1890-1973). Art O'Donnell, from Tullycrine, Co. Clare joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1915 and later became Commandant of the West Clare Brigade of the Irish Volunteers. While interned at Frongoch Camp (‘the University of Revolution’) in Wales in 1916, he wrote a manuscript containing poems and ballads of Irish and Clare provenance, names and addresses of individuals, lessons in the Irish language and some sketches. Some of the pages were written in Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London, where prisoners were held while being interviewed before release. Other pages must have been written after 1919, as they include ballads which refer to incidents which occurred during the War of Independence. The manuscript was donated to Clare County Archives by Hugh O'Donnell, Art's son, and is available for viewing on this website.

Song. 'Twas in the banner County Clare/ In the village of Ruan/ There stood the nicest barricks there/ The finest you could scan/ With a seargent & 13 police & all there/ Stuffs? also / Were captured by the Volunteers/ ? did the Peelers go/ Tom Reidy Esq/ Inagh'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript

Song. 'Tipperary is a place of disloyalty/ Its climate is unhealty for the brave R.I.C./ So Culhane and his comrades no longer are free/ Thanks to Ian MacPherson the Chief Secretary/ Chorus. VIII/ Cork aye and Kerry received a death blow/ From the mountains of Wicklow we get the brave snow/ ?? one to be sure of a show/ ?? from Clare in the west come brave Dillon?/ No limit is fixed for the length of our stay/ But it may be indeed that ?/ And until it comes round/ We will ?'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript

Pop Goes the Peeler 1. 'Pop goes the Peeler/ I. Ireland is a terrible place/ 'Tis very hard to pleace her/ Coercion and concessions alike/ Fail to appease her/ We kept her safe through out the war/ What fear the Huns would steal her/ And all the thanks we get is when/ Pop goes the Peeler/ Chorus: Compensate the widow boys/ Thats the stuff to heel her/ Still it is a nasty thing when/ Pop goes the Peeler/ II. Sir Horace Plunkett comes along/ With a new solution/ It may be called Dominion Rule and Devolution/ The papers all are booming it/ The Times sends out a feeler' Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript.

Pop goes the Peeler 2. 'Races day in Thurles Town/ There was great enjoyment/ And Inspector Hunt was down/ Seeking inployment/ Everyone injoyed himself/ From Duke to cattle dealer/ But in the middle of the fun/ Pop goes the Peeler/ Chorus II/ Detective Hoey now is dead/ So is Sergeant Bruton/ And Redmond prayed everyday/ We'd stop the shooting/ The[y] don't object to common crime/ To a burglar or a stealer/ But the proper stuff to make em dance/ is when Pop goes the Peeler'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript

The mangy British lion 1. 'The Mangy British Lion. Oh neighbours dear come listen and hear/ The wondrous news I've heard today/ Irelands love of liberty they say is dead and passes away/ Irishmen have now got wiser now they go and/ shoot the Kaiser/ They dispise their country's story, all/ they want is England's glory/ ha ha ha, ha ha ha all they want is England's/ glory ha ha ha./ Oh just imagine Hugh O'Neill thundering/ Down in furious style/ To assail with lead and steel the rovers/ From the Sister Isle/ Chiefs and clans from all directions with/ their far and near connections/ Warriers bold and swift uprisers rushing on their/ civilizers'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript

The mangy British lion 2. '..friends the chance is great/ To cast a slur on Emmet's fate/ Scoff at Tone and '98 and Lord Edwards name/ And in a quiet and loyal manner, dip and dye/ our own green banner/ And where hangs the harp of Brian/ Plant the Mangy British Lion/ Ha ha ha ha plant the mangy British Lion/ Now my friends it seems to me/ England's self 'ere now should know/ These are things she'll never see/ Be Ireland's star ere high or low/ That's the truth whoever denies it/ ? it flouts it or decrys it/ I[t] helps to spread this vile invention/ From a spot not right to mention/ Ha ha ha From a spot ha ha ha/ From a spot not right to mention'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript.

Just before the battle mother 1. 'Just before the battle mother/ Just before the battle mother/ I am thinking most of you/ While upon the field we're watching/ With the enemy in view/ Comrades brave around me lying/ Filled with thoughts of home and God/ For well they know that on the morrow/ Some will sleep beneath the sod/ Chorus: Farewell mother you may never/ Press me to your heart again/ But oh you'll not forget me mother/ If I am numbered with the slain/ Oh I long to see you mother/ And the loving ones at home/ But I'll never leave our banner/ 'Till in honour I can come/ Tell the traitors 'round about you/ That their cruel words we know/ In every battle kill our soldiers/ By the help they give the foe'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript.

Just before the battle mother 2. 'Hark I hear the bugle sounding/ Tis the signal for the fight/ Now may God protect us mother/ As he ever does the right/ Hear the battle cry of freedom/ How it swells upon the air/ Oh yes we'll rally round the standard/ Or we'll perish nobly their/ Tuesday 4pm Shrove Tuesday'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript

The Red Flag 1. 'The Red Flag. The peoples flag is deepest red/ It shrouded oft our martyred dead/ And ere the limbs grew stiff and cold/ Their hearts blood dyed its every fold/ Chorus: Then raise your scarlet banner high/ Within its folds we'll live or die/ Let cowards flinch and traitors sneer/ We'll keep the red flag flying here/ It well recalls the triumphs past/ It brings the hope of peace at last/ That banner bright the symbol plain/ Of human right and human gain/ Chorus/ Look round the Frenchman loves its blaze/ The sturdy German chants its praise/ In Moscows vaults its hymns are sung/ [Chi]cago swells the surging throng/ Chorus'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript.

The Red Flag 2. '..recalls our infant might/ When all ahead seems dark as night/ It witnessed many a deed and vow/ We must not change its colours now/ It well befits the week and base/ Whose minds are fixed on self and place/ To cringe before the rich man's frown/ And tear that sacred emblem down/ With heads uncovered swear we all/ To bear it onward till we fall/ Come dungeon deep or gallows grim/ This song shall be our parting hymn/ James Dunne/ 17 Mary St/ Cork'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript

My Mary of the Curling Hair. 'My Mary of the Curling Hair/ My Mary of the curling hair/ With bashful [struck through] laughing teeth and bashful air/ The bridal morning is dawning fair/ With blushes in the sky/ Shule shule shule agra/ shule agus sucar agus shule arun/ My love my pearl my own sweet girl/ My mountain maid arise/ I am no stranger fair and gay/ To wend thee from your homeward way/ And gain for thee a distant day/ A theem of wasting sighs/ And soon my love shall be my bride/ And happy by our own fireside/ My veins shall loose the rosy tide/ That lingering hopes deny'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript

Names and addresses. 'Seamus Ó Laoidhleir/ Slige na nGarrda a 25/ gSar Naidhnean/ Bair Atha Cliath/ Joseph McDonagh MP, Dublin/ Garrett Kelleher, 13 Emmet Place, Limerick/ Diarmaid Driscol, Na hAodrar, Baile Caislean Bearr(?)/ Con Aherne, Main St Dunmanway/ Florence Begley, Castle Rd, Bandon/ J Clancy, Cush, Kilfinnane, Co Limerick/ Ralph F Keyes, 4 Market St Bantry/ John Stack, 17 Newtown, Queenstown Cove/ J Dillon, Bradford, Belvoir, Sixmilebridge/ Dennis Galvin, Clonbanniv, Bantry, Cork/ John Fanning, Clondulane, Fermoy/ Pat Donovan, Syle, Araglen, Kilworth Cork/ Eamon Stack, 17 Newtown, Cove/ P Buckley, Coolmakan, Kilworth Cork/ Con Liddy, Araglen, Kilworth'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript *** Local Caption *** Prints and Manuscripts Collection

Names and addresses. 'John Keane, Kings St, Mitchelstown/ Paddy Crowley, Ivy Lodge, Kilbrittan, Co Cork/ J. Allen, Newcestown, Bandon, Cork/ D Crowley, Kilbrittan, Co Cork/ Ml O'Sullivan, Mulbern, Mitchelstown/ John Snowe, Bawnogue Ctge, Baltinglass, Wicklow/ John Sweeney, 33 Mungret St, Limerick/ Harry O'Hanrahan, 384 N C Road, Dublin/ Joseph O'Connor Kilmurry McMahon, Co Clare/ William J Bland, Church St, Youghal/ James Dunne, 14 Mary St, Cork/ Cornie? Ó Ríada, Srad an Cuan a 43, Cobh/ Patk O'Shea, Camp, Co Kerry/ Líam Ruad Ó Duibhír, Caolruadh, 24 hAodrrge, Deara/ Daniel Canty, Tamalough, Newcestown/ Dennis Longe, Pullerick, Crookstown, Cork/ Pat O'Leary, Crossmahon, Lisarda, Co Cork/ Mark O'Sullivan, Lislouran, Cashel, Tipp/ Thos Daly, Castlegregory, Kerry/ Edward Greene, 15 N. Main St, Youghal/ Ml Crowley Churchgate, Youghal/ Patk Kelly, Kinvarra, Galway/ Martin Finnerty, Athenry, Galway'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript.

Names and addresses. 'Frelix Cronin, Lorrha, Tipp./ John Brett, Moyaliffe, Drumbane Thurles, Co Tipp/ Matt Barlow, Shrough House, Tipperary/ Samuel D Irwin, 74 C Coy 3rd Batt Dublin Brigade, IRA/ M Quinn, Inch, Ennis/ Thos Wall, Scariff, Clare/ Pat Sullivan, Ballycasey Ctge, Clare/ Thady Kelly, Casey's Road, Limerick/ J Harty, Toomevarra, Co Tipp./ Wi. Hynes, Dungora, Kinvarra/ Charles Foley, 1 Hight St, Limerick/ Eamon Hayes, Central Hotel, Thurles/ Mick Lanigan, Lisdalen, Templtuohy, Templemore, Tipp/ Denis Morgan, Riverview Thurles/ John Mallen, 20 High Road Kilmainham, Dublin/ Ml Eustace, Main St, Thurles/ Thos O'Shea, Carrigrina, Cove/ D J Doherty, Strabane/ John Moran, 25 Prospect Buildings, Limerick/ James Hoey, 33 Duncairn Ave, Bray, Wicklow/ Arthur Barlow, Shrough, Tipp./ Charles Culhane, Thurles'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript.

Names and addresses. 'Sean Rea, 47 Upr William St, Limerick/ Sean Driscoll, Eyeries, Castletownbere/ Patrick O'Neill, Eyeries, Castletownbere/ Cornelius O'Neill, Main Street, Castletownbere/ Liam Ruagh O'Duibhir, Caolruadh, Cork/ Eamon Duibhir, Cill Seanáin, Caiseal, Mumhan/ Batt Joyce, Cronohill, Kilworth/ Michael Griffith, 54 Eccles St, Dublin/ Joe Bracken & Willie, 73 Fitzrory Aven, Drumcondra, Dublin/ John Mallin, 20 High Road, Kilmainham, Dublin/ Michael Kelly, 8 Christchurch Place, Dublin/ Robert Killen, 14 St Joseph Parade, Nelson St, Dublin/ Charles Foley, 1 High St, Limerick/ Wim Madden, 22 High St, Limerick/ John Mcormack, Limerick/ Pat Whelan, 8 Wolf Tone St, Limerick/ Frank Gallagher, Parteen, Clare/ J Clancy, Kilkisen, Clare/ John Ryan, Drumbane, Tipp./ Micheál , Ó Géalachor, ?, Co. Cork'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript.

Irish lesson. 'Tá fáinne uirthi: She wears a ring/ Tá éadach orainn: We wear clothes/ Acht beidh sí aosta: but she will be aged/ Cuirfidh: I will put/ Cad a rinne sí: What did she do/ Tabhair do leabhar dó: Give your book to him/ Le chéile: together/ Caith do leabhar: Throw your book/ Do thóg sé an leabhar súas ón urlár: he took the book up from the floor/ Seo páipéar bán: This is a white paper/ Sin páipéar níos báine: that paper is whiter/ Tá an solas seo geall acht tá an sin níos gile: This light is bright but that is brighter/ Is fada é mo bróg acht is fuide do bhróg-sa: My boot is long but your boot is longer / Cá an t-am é: What time is it/ Aon a clogh: one o clock / Leath-uair tar éis a dó: half hour past two/ Ceathramha tar éis a ceathair: a quarter past four/ Ceathramha roimh a haon: quarter to one/ Cúig nóimid tar éis a sé: 5 minutes after six/ Is iad seo na súile: These are the eyes/ Cos an tsuidheacháin: Foot of the seat/ Cogar bfuil d'uaireadóir ar siudhal nó 'na stad: Whisper is watch going or stopped/ Táim ag éisteacht leis: I am listening to it/ Tá fuaim ag teacht as: There is noise coming from it/ Tochairigh é (thoh-er-e): Wind it'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript.

Cré an Aspal. 'Cré an Aspal. Creidim í nDia, an tAthair uile-cumhachtac cruthuightheoir neimhe & talmhan (crad im inyee, en taher ulleh-hookh-thuk krue-he-hore yeveh & thaloon). Agus an Íosa Chríost a aon mac-san ár dTighearna (Agus in yessa kreest a aon wac-san ard yeerna). A gabhadh ón Spioraid Naomh (a gawoo own spirud naw). Do rugadh ó Mhuire Oig (dhu rugoo o wirreh o-ee). dFhulaing Páis faoi Phoint Pioláid (dulung paush fwee foint peelaud). Do céasadh, fuair bás agus do hadhlacadh (dhu kaysoo foor baus agus dhu haw-lahor). Do chuaidh síos go hifrionn (dho hoee swas go hifrin). d'Éirigh an trias lá ó marabh (dyairig a triass la o waraw). Do chuaidh suas ar neamh (do hooee swas ar yeav). Atá 'na shuide ar deas Dé an Athair uilechumachthaigh (atha na hee ar deas dyay an aher ullek-hoohthee). As sinn tiocfaidh chum breitheamnas do thabairt ar bheodhaibh & ar mharaibh (as shint yuckee un breehunas ar howert are-yvoey & ar warrav). An Spioráid Naomh in san Naomh Eaglais Chatoilicigh(Katilichi). Í gcomhaoin na Naomh (ig-um ween nan-of) Í maitheamhnas na peacadh (im mahoonas na pakoo). In eiséirighe n gcoirp & in san meatha siorraidhe (in ashayre na gurp & maha heeree) Amen'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript.

The Angelus. 'The Angelus/ d'Fhoillsigh Aingeal a Tigeana do Mhuire (dhil-shee Angil ent-yeerna tho Wireh): Declared (the) angel of the lord unto Mary / Agus do ghabh sí ón Spioraid Naomh: and conceived she from the Holy Ghost/ Feich banóghlach an Tignearna: Behold (the) Handmaid of the Lord/ Go ndeantar liom-sa do reir d'focail (dhuk-ul): Be it done to me according word/ Agus rinneadh feoil de'n bhréithir (rinoo fee-oel dhen vray-er): and was made flesh of the word/ Agus do comhnaigh Sé eadrainn (dhuk-ho-nee adrim): and dwelt He amongst us/ Innuir go ndeanfaidhe oireamhnach sinn chun geallamna Críost d'fhagháil (innur gun-yain-fee er oon-uk sin un galloona dhaul): Pray with us O Holy Mother of God so that we may be made worthy of the promises'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell Manuscript.

Prayer. 'Doirt anuas, a Thighearna impighmíd ort do grása in ár gcroidheibh (dhort anoos impeemed dho rassa greehw): Pour down O Lord we beseech thy grace in our hearts/ Ionur tar éis fios d'fagáil dúinn le teachtaireacht an Aingil ar theacht Críost o Mhic í gcolainn dhaonna (innur tharaish fiss dhail doon le yht-air abht an angel ig ullen hgae-na): so that after being made known to us by (the) message of angel of the coming of Christ the Son in form human / Go dtiocfaid linn tré na Pháis agus a Crois dul go glóir a Éireirighe (gud-yuck-oo nef-ausch Krussh a esh-ire-ee): we may be able thro the passion and cross to go to the Glory of His resurrection / Tríes an gCríost chéadna ár dTígearna (thres an ger-eest kanna aurd-yeerna): ? the same Christ our Lord Amen/ Go gcomhnaigh congnadh Dhé againn do ghnáth (gu goh-nee koo-nood yae dug-nay): May remain the assistance of God with us always/ Agus go bhfaghaidh anama na bhfírean go chuaibh riomhinn suaimhneas & siocheáin tré trócaire Dé (agus go way-ee veerain do hosee roh-hen see-ev nuar & shee-kán): and may get (the) souls of the faithful who went before us rest in peace through the mercy of God Amen'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript

Irish lesson. 'Ca é seo im' láimh? Is mála beag tabaic é. Táim ag cur píosa tabaic im' píopa. An gcaitheann tú tabauc?: Do you use tobacco / Ní gcaithím mar ní réidheigheann (ray-telun) sé liom: I don't for it does not agree with me / Cuireann sé tinneas orm: It make me sick/ Tá cipín solais uaim: bhfuil ceann acu agat? I am short of a mtach; have you one of them/ Teastuigheann (teas-tee-un) cipín solais uaim-sa mar an gceadhna (gaina): I want a match my-self aswell / Táim ag cuardach mo phocaidhe chun cipín d'fagháil: I am searching my pockets to find a match/ Sea dhuith ceann acu fuair mé: Here is for you I found / Ní cipín adhmaidh (aii-mad) i sea, acht cipín céirdha: It is not a wooden match but ? match/ Acht is cuima liom: O it's all the same to me/ Táim ag cumaile an bhosca leis an gcipín: I am rubbing the box with the match/ Tá an tabach dearghta agam. Tá gal ag teacht as mo bhéal: Smoke is coming out of my mouth/ Táim ag múchadh an teine im píopa mar ní ceart: - I am extinguishing the fire in my pipe for it is not right now just to be smoking/ in a room / see next time'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript

Irish lesson. 'Ní cóir beith ag caitheamh tabac? i seomra?/ Táim ag breith ar an leabhar idir mo meon agus m'órdóge: I am catching the book between my finger and thumb / Beir ar do leabhar mar seo: catch thy book so / do rug se ar an leabhar: he caught his book / Caith uait é: throw it away / Táim ag sáith an bioráin san mbórd: I am sticking a pin in the table / Do sháith me san mórd: I stuck it on the table / Is é seo ceann an bhioráin: This is the head of the pin / Is í seo binn: this is the point / Tá an biorán bonn ós cionn annois: The pin is upside down now / Sáithfidh mé im chota é: I will stick it in my coat/ Tá leabhar im glaich: the book is in my grasp/ is duileóg leabhair é: it is a leaf of a book/ Táim ag stróiceadh in a dhá leath píosa paipéar: I am tearing in two halves a piece of paper / Táim ag stróiceadh an páipear in smidirínibh: I am thearing the paper in little bits / Do rinne mé dá cuidh de: I made two parts of it / Chuirim mo lamh faoi mo smigín: I put my hand under my chin / Eirighean sí suas anois: It is rising up now/ Tá sí ós cionn mo chinn: It is over my head/ Cuirfeadh faoi mascal é: I will put it under my arm/ Tá sé ansin anois: it is there now'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript

Irish lesson. 'Bain díot é: Take it off/ bain a leabhar de: take his book from him/ Tabair dó ar ais é: Give it back to him/ Táim ag cur mo láimh ciarsúir tímpeall mo mhuinéail: I will put my handkerchief round my neck / Tausbáin do leabhar duinn: Show you book to us/ Ní lá na géithi lá na scollop: A windy day is not a day for thatch / Táim dá bhaint díom: I am taking it off / Táim dá casadh timpeall m'ordóige: I am twisting round my thumb / Cad do bhí agam; ga dheanamh: what was i doing / bhí tú ag casadh do círsúir timpeall dordóige: You were twisting your handkerchief round your thumb / Tá an doras in ar m'aghaidh, agus tá an fuineóg ar me dhruim: The door is facing me and the window is at my back / Táim ag dul ar géal: I am going back / Iompaigh ar do lamh clé: Turn to your left / d'iompaigh sí ar a lamh clé: She turned to her left / tabhair coiscéim ar aghaidh: take a step forward / thug sé coiscéim ar a aghaidh: He took a step forward / Táim ag gread mo bos: I am beating my palms / Bhí tú ag greadadh do boise: You were striking your palm'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript.

Irish lesson. 'Béidh mé ag sgrúbadh mo lamh, do sgríbar, (do sgríb mé): I will be scratching my hands/ Cad táid; What are they / Bfuil mid: are we / Thaameed (bfuilid Táid): we are (are they they are)/ bhidir im shuidhe: I was sitting / Beidheadh im: I will be/ Tár id sheasamh: You are standing/ Bhidhir id shiudhe: You were sitting / Beidh tú mar sin aris: You will be so again / Buidheachas leat: Thank you/ Cad do dhinir (dhein tú): What did you do / Thugas mo leabhar duit: I gave my book to you / Cuirigh bhur leabhra ar bhur nglúinne: Put ye your books on your knees / Cad a rinnebhur: What did ye do / Chuireamar (chuir sin) ár leabhra ar ár nglúinibh: We put our books on our knees / Cad a dhein siad: What did they do / Do chuir siad a leabhra: They put the books / Cá bhfuil na leabhra annois: Where are the books now/ Táod ar ár ngluinibh: They are on our knees / Sea cipín mór: Here is a big match / Seo dí ceann níos mó & is iad súid na trí cinn is mó: Here is two bigger and there are the three biggest / Seo cipín beag: Here is a small match/ Cipín nios lugha: a smaller stick/ seacht gcipínidh is lugha: seven smaller sticks / Aon t-slabhradh: one chain / Ocht núlla: 8 apples'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript.

Irish sayings. 'Seachain gáire Sasneigh, éadan tháirbh, drandúil madraidh, agus deareadh staile: Beware of a Saxon smile, a bull's head, a dog's tooth and a stallion's hind part/ Sabháilte na pingne & cealleamhainc: Penny wise and pound follish / Tart dearadh an óil, agus brón deareadh an ghrádha: Thirst is the end of drinking and sorrow the end of love / Tús nó deareadh ceatha le ceo: The beginning and end of a shower is fog / Tosach coillte nó dearadh séithe: First tro a wood, last thro a swamp / Tabhair domh sa, & bhí féin idh oinssigh: Give that to me and be fool yourself / Tuigim acht ní leighimh, acht tuigheann fear leighim leath-fhocail: I understand but I can't read but a scholar understands have a word / Tóg uaim é acht na súil uaim acht é: Take it from my & I desire nothing else / Tá an spúir féin & capall duinne eile: He has his own spurs and another's horse at him / Tús Aoine nó dearadh Sathairin: Beginning of Friday or end of Saturday / Mícheál Ó Ríada/ Eighneach/ Co an Cláir'. Page taken from Art O'Donnell manuscript.