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Looking for something new and an exciting experience next weekend, then read on.
Medieval archery contests, mounted swordsmanship and jousting will be showcased during the inaugural Grand Medieval Tournament at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare this coming Saturday and Sunday. [September 9th & 10th]
Reenactors from the Wexford-based Horsemen of Éire group will play the knights of the Earl of Ulster Hugh De Lacy and his bitter rival John DeCourcy as they take over the paddocks of the Folk Park.
Visitors can also experience a true to life medieval encampment and witness history come to life by meeting the characters, learning about the turbulent times, lifestyles, customs and skills of 12th and 13th century Ireland.
The two-day medieval spectacle will also afford the public a unique opportunity to witness the preparation and training required for those facing into battle and see how their customs, crafts and traditions have shaped modern society.
The tournament consists of a series of duels and feats of arms horseback and on foot where the two teams try to accumulate points. Visitors will see mounted knights joust at the quintain attempting to strike stationary objects with a lance and hurl javelins at targets, archers demonstrate their accuracy and precision by shooting at distant targets, knights duelling while mounted on their steeds, and multiple knights engaging in a fierce battle within the arena, demonstrating their swordplay, agility, and tactics.
The closing ceremony each day will feature two of the most outstanding knights facing each other in an epic duel on horseback and on foot. A panel of experienced judges will assess the participants’ skill, technique, sportsmanship, and adherence to the code of chivalry. Points are awarded for successful strikes, deft manoeuvres, and demonstrations of honour and respect. The victorious knight will be crowned the Champion of the Grand Tournament, awarded with a glittering laurel wreath, and the admiration of the crowd.
Bunratty Castle was itself the target of multiple attacks during medieval times. The castle was captured and destroyed in 1284, before being rebuilt by Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond, three years later.
See www.bunrattycastle.ie for more on the Grand Medieval Tournament at Bunratty Castle on September 9-10th.
The Dying Rebel.
Vocals: Irish singer, songwriter, historian, Derek Warfield, a former member of the musical group The Wolfe Tones.
Lyrics: Original author unknown.
The following rebel song tells the story of an Irish freedom fighter listening to the last words of his comrade, who lies dying on a Dublin street. When the wounded man’s father arrives at the scene seeking his son’s whereabouts, he is informed, “there’s no use in searching, your son to heaven has gone.”
The ballad is set during Easter 1916, and according to one version the dying man came from Co. Tipperary with the song rendition containing the following lines:-
“The first I saw was a wounded soldier,
Lying, dying, as he feebly cried,
‘God bless our home in sweet Tipperary.
God bless the cause for I am dying’
My only son was shot in Dublin,
Fighting for his country bold,
He died for Ireland, and Ireland only,
The Harp and Shamrock, Green, White and Gold”.
Some years later, a four-verse version of this ballad was published, written in a Dublin journal; then known as “The Bell”, latter which ceased publication in 1954. Same publication was an outspoken liberal voice at a time of great political and intellectual stagnation.
The article containing this four-verse version was written by Donagh MacDonagh, latter son of Tipperary-born political activist, poet, playwright, educationalist and revolutionary leader Thomas MacDonagh, one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, who was executed on Wednesday May 3rd, 1916.
The Dying Rebel
The night was dark and the fight was over,
The moon shone down O’Connell Street,
I stood alone, where brave men perished,
Those men have gone, their God to meet.
[Chorus]
My only son was shot in Dublin,
Fighting for his country bold,
He fought for Ireland, and Ireland only,
The harp and shamrock, green white and gold.
The first I met was a grey haired father,
Searching for his only son,
I said old man, there’s no use searching,
For up to heaven, your son has gone.
[Repeat Chorus]
The old man cried out broken hearted,
Bending low I heard him say,
I knew my son was too kind hearted,
I knew my son would never yield.
[Repeat Chorus]
The last I met was a dying rebel,
Bending low I heard him say,
God bless my home, in dear Cork City,
And bless the cause for which I die.
[Repeat Chorus]
END.
The Old Man
Lyrics: Irish musician, songwriter and record producer from Derry, Northern Ireland, Phil Coulter.
Vocals: Irish folk band ‘The Fureys’, originally formed in 1974, from Ballyfermot, Dublin, and Irish folk singer, originally from Co. Donegal, Davy Arthur.
The Old Man
The tears have all been shed now,
We’ve said our last goodbyes.
His soul’s been blest,
He’s laid to rest,
And it’s now I feel alone.
He was more then just a father,
A teacher, my best friend,
He can still be heard,
In the tunes we’ve shared,
When we played them on our own.
Oh I’ll never will forget him,
For he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on,
I miss my old man.
As a boy, he’d take me walking,
Through mountains, field, and stream,
And he’d show me things,
Not know to kids,
And secrets between him and me.
Like the colors of the pheasant,
As he rises in the dawn,
And how to fish, and make a wish,
Beside a holy tree.
Oh, I’ll never will forget him,
For he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on,
I miss my old man.
I thought he’d live forever,
Sure he seemed so big and strong,
But the minutes fly,
And the years roll by,
For a father and a son,
And suddenly when it happened,
There was so much left unsaid,
No second chance to tell him thanks,
For everything he’d done.
Oh, I’ll never will forget him,
For he made me what I am,
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on,
I miss my old man.
End
Visiting Hours.
This song possibly sums up the sincere wishes of many in our Tipperary community, following a devastating week which witnessed unprecedented tragedies on our county roads.
Vocals: English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.
Lyrics: Written by Amy Wadge, Ant Clemons, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Kim Lang Smith, Michael Pollack and Scott Carter.
Visiting Hours.
I wish that heaven had visiting hours,
I could just show up and bring the news.
She’s gettin’ old and I wish that you’d met her.
The things that she’ll learn from me, I got them all from you.
I just stay a while and we’ll put all the world to rights?
The little ones will grow and I’ll still drink your favorite wine,
They’re going to close, but I’ll see you another day.
So much has changed since you’ve been away.
I wish that heaven had visiting hours,
I could just swing by and ask your advice.
What would you do in my situation? I haven’t a clue how I’d even raise them.
What would you do? ‘you would always do what’s right.
We just talk a while until my worries disappear?
I’d tell you that I’m scared of turnin’ out a failure.
You’d say, “Remember that the answer’s in the love that we create”.
So much has changed since you’ve been away.
I wish that heaven had visiting hours,
And I would ask them if I could take you home,
But I know what they’d say, that it’s for the best.
So I will live life the way you taught me, and make it on my own,
But I will close the door, but I will open up my heart,
Everyone I love will know exactly who you are,
‘Cause this is not goodbye, it is just ’til we meet again.
So much has changed since you’ve been away.
END
Travelin’ Soldier.
Lyrics: American, Austin, Texas based country music singer and songwriter Bruce Robison.
Vocals: American country music band from Dallas, Texas, “The Chicks” (Previously known as the “Dixie Chicks”).
Travelin’ Soldier.
Two days past eighteen,
He was waiting for the bus in his army green.
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there’,
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair.
He’s a little shy so she give him a smile.
And he said would you mind sittin’ down for a while,
And talking to me, I’m feeling a little low.
She said I’m off in an hour and I know where we can go.
So they went down and they sat on the pier.
He said I bet you got a boyfriend, but I don’t care,
I got no one to send a letter to.
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you.
I cried,
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy,
Too young for him they told her.
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.
Our love will never end,
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again.
Never more to be alone when the letter says,
A soldier’s coming home.
So the letters came from an army camp,
From California then Vietnam,
And he told her of his heart.
It might be love and all of the things he was so scared of,
He said when it’s getting kinda rough over here,
I think of that day sittin’ down at the pier,
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile.
Don’t worry but I won’t be able to write for a while.
I cried,
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy.
Too young for him they told her,
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.
Our love will never end,
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again.
Never more to be alone when the letter says,
A soldier’s coming home.
One Friday night at a football game,
The Lord’s Prayer said and the anthem sang.
A man said “folks would you bow your head,
For the list of local Vietnam dead”.
Crying all alone under the stands,
Was the piccolo player in the marching band,
And one name read and nobody really cared,
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair.
I cried,
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy.
Too young for him they told her,
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.
Our love will never end.
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again.
Never more to be alone when the letter says,
A soldier’s coming home.
I cried,
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy.
Too young for him they told her,
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.
Our love will never end.
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again,
Never more to be alone when the letter says,
A soldier’s coming home.
END.
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