Patriot Game

The song Patriot Game refers to the death of Fergal O'Hanlon.
Fergal O'Hanlon was a juvenile from County Monaghan who joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA) when he was only 16 years old. On 2 January 1957, during the Border Campaign, his unit launched an attack on the barracks of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in Brookeborough, about seven kilometre across the border in County Fermanagh. On the site their bomb failed to detonate and instead they threw hand grenades through the windows. In the shoot-out that followed the 17 years old Fergal O'Hanlon and Séan South were killed.

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Patriot Game

Title: Patriot Game

Lyrics by: Dominic Behan

Recorded by: 1916, Black 47, Bogside Rogues, The Brobdingnagian Bards, The Clancy Brothers, Claymore, The Irish Brigade, Shebeen, The Spirit of Freedom, Derek Warfield, Patsy Watchhorn and The Wolfhound

Category: The Troubles and Republican Song

Clip courtesy of: The Brobdingnagian Bards

All song rights and copyrights belong to the respective authors and/or composers and this material might be copyrighted. Inform us if your rights are violated Copyright Statement

Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing,
For the love of one's country is a terrible thing.
It banishes fear with the speed of a flame,
And it makes us all part of the patriot game.

My name is O'Hanlon, and I've just gone sixteen.
My home is in Monaghan, where I was weaned.
I learned all my life cruel England's to blame,
So now I am part of the patriot game.

It's nearly two years since I wandered away
With the local battalion of the bold IRA,
For I read of our heroes, and wanted the same
To play out my part in the patriot game.

I joined a battalion from dear Ballybay
And gave up my boyhood so happy and gay.
For now as a soldier I'd drill and I'd train
To play my full part in the patriot game.

They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair,
His wounds from the fighting all bloody and bare.
His fine body twisted, all battered and lame.
They soon made me part of the patriot game.

This Ireland of ours has long been half free.
Six counties are under John Bull's tyranny.
But still De Valera is greatly to blame
For shirking his part in the Patriot game.

I don't mind a bit if I shoot down police
They are lackeys for war never guardians of peace
And yet at deserters I'm never let aim
The rebels who sold out the patriot game

And now as I lie here, my body all holes
I think of those traitors who bargained and sold
And I wish that my rifle had given the same
To those Quislings who sold out the patriot game.

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