The Galtee Mountain Boy

There is every possibility that people find the song The Galtee Mountain Boy rather confusing.
The first inconsistency concerns the main character joining the Flying Column in 1916. The concept Flying Column, an autonomous military unit equipped with only the bare necessities for the specific task assigned, originated from the First World War, but it wasn't until the War of Independence that the expression gained general currency in Ireland.
In addition the fourth verse appears slightly strained and detached. This is mainly due to Christy Moore who wrote that verse long after Patsy Halloran had completed the first three verses. This additional verse is basically uncalled-for and rumour has it that Christy Moore extended the song solely for the purpose of creating a standard four minute track.

Initially we thought also thought that the song contained a topographical inaccuracy. According to the lyrics, and we have checked several sources, the Galtee Mountain Boy came from the Tipperary region and crossed the Dublin Mountains before the Wicklow Mountains. In fact this should be the other way around, and we'd praised performers such as Paddy Reilly who corrected this imperfection by switching the two mountain ranges. That is, until we'd received an email from Claire Guerin who informed us that her grandfather, a member of the flying column led by Michael Sheehan, was summoned to Dublin from Tipperary by Harry Boland. By the time they arrived the Four Courts had surrendered and they headed to the south, through the Wicklow Mountains to Wicklow, Enniscorthy, Carlow and Kilkenny before ending up in Clonmel.
The finding of a Flying Column that went a surprising route might bring us closer to yet an other mystery surrounding The Galtee Mountain Boy that's bothering us and many others. The lyrics conveys the impression that the Galtee Mountain Boy wasn't a fictional person. However, there are no substantial clues leading to his identity and it's is commonly accepted though that the Galtee Mountain Boy is a fictitious character.

The Galtee Mountain Boy might be an imaginary character, the men mentioned in the song are definitely not fictitious. All of them were well-known members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the Tipperary - Cork area during the War of Independence and the Civil War.
Seán Hogan and Dan Breen were part of the group which seized a cart load of gelignite, or gelly, and detonators near Soloheadbeg in County Tipperary on 21 January 1919. Two officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) got killed in what is known as the Soloheadbeg Ambush. The ambush at Soloheadbeg marked the beginning of the War of Independence. After the ambush Seán Hogan and Dan Breen were on the run.
Hogan was arrested in May 1919, but freed near Knocklong by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), among which Dan Breen, when he was transported from Thurles to stand trail in Cork. In June 1921, only a few weeks before the end of the War of Independence, Ned Foley and Patrick Maher were executed for the killing of two police escorts during the Knocklong Rescue. Seán Hogan, who was wounded during his escape, recovered and fought in the Civil War against the Free Staters.
Dan Breen managed to avoid being arrested, although once he sustained 22 bullet wounds in a shootout with the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). Like Seán Hogan Breen opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and fought in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He was arrested by Free Staters during the Civil War and imprisoned in Mountjoy Prison, from which he was released after a hunger and thirst strike. After the Civil War Dan Breen went into politics until his retirement in 1965.

Dinny Lacey was commander of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the south of County Tipperary and was killed in an ambush by members of the Free State Army on 18 February 1923.
And, last but not least, Seán Moylan was leader of the North Cork Brigade of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). After the Civil War Seán Moylan was actively involved in the founding of Fianna Fáil. One of Moylan's greatest political achievements was that he persuaded the anti-Treaty side in the Republic of Ireland to put down the weapons and to enter politics.

[top of page]

The Galtee Mountain Boy

I joined the Flying Column in 1916
In Cork with Seán Moylan, Tipperary with Dan Breen
Arrested by Free Staters and sentenced for to die
Farewell to Tipperary said the Galtee Mountain Boy

We crossed pleasant valleys and over the hilltops green
Where we met with Dinny Lacey, Seán Hogan and Dan Breen
Seán Moylan and his gallant band they kept the flag flying high
Farewell to Tipperary said the Galtee Mountain Boy

We crossed the Dublin mountains we were rebels on the run
Though hunted night and morning we were outlawed but free men
We tracked the Wicklow mountains as the sun was shining high
Farewell to Tipperary said the Galtee Mountain Boy

I'm bidding farewell to old Clonmel that I never more will see
And to the Galtee mountains that oft times sheltered me
To the men who fought for liberty and died without a sigh
May the cause be ne'er forgotten said the Galtee Mountain Boy

[top of page]