Before Ballad “Kevin Barry”Execution:The Ballad "Kevin Barry" was written shortly after his execution on 1st November, 1920 by an unknown author.

 Before Ballad “Kevin Barry”Execution:The Ballad "Kevin Barry" was written shortly after his execution on 1st November, 1920 by an unknown author.

The song spread like wildfire. Of course, nowadays we have the internet and Facebook and Twitter where songs or stories go "viral" as we say. So popular was this song, it is said that a little girl once asked her mother “what used they sing before ‘Kevin Barry?’”

      Years ago when I visited a Nursing Home in The Bronx, New York; an old woman from Kerry in her second childhood began singing the song when I told her my name was Kevin. That really impressed upon me how deeply this song is ingrained in people's memory. 

It was the first song many people from Ireland remember hearing. Many Irish-Americans have told me of their parents' affection for the song.

       In those days songs could sometimes travel like newspapers. 

Often, among those of poor education, it was the news. Street ballad singers would busk or play on the street for spare change, as they still do now. But now, we have radio, and television, and the aforementioned internet.

         In the days before recorded music became available, songs were transmitted from singer to listener. Sometimes the songs would have different lyrics depending who sang them, or different airs/melodies. 

Often, new lyrics would be written to the music of songs that were already well-known. For example: "The Rising Of The Moon" was written to the tune of "The Wearing Of The Green". "The Boys of Kilmichael" about the west Cork ambush in 1920 is very obviously patterned after "The Men Of The West" about the French invasion of Mayo in 1798. 

        The songs mentioned above are categorised as Rebel Songs.

 They were written throughout Irish history to tell the stories of brave heroes and events that would not be written in history books nor taught in schools. Many names and events survive because of them.

 This goes back to the old bardic tradition. A warrior was more afraid to cross a bard than a king. A king could end your life, but a bard can destroy your name forever. 

       The song about Kevin Barry fits well within that tradition. It assured that he was remembered. It angered the listener to hear the story of a brave, honest 18-year old young man who fought for his country being tortured and hanged. 

His refusal to inform on his comrades under pain of torture and death earned admiration in the ears and eyes of the listener.

 It spurred many to action, and countless others to support action being taken. The song has been sung all over the world by artists as diverse as Paul Robeson and Leonard Cohen. 

     Songs like this, and especially this one in particular, had a part in bringing down the British Empire.

Kevin Rooney

“Kevin Barry” 

In Mountjoy jail one Monday morning 

High upon the gallows tree 

Kevin Barry gave his young life 

For the cause of liberty 

Just a lad of eighteen summers 

Yet there’s no one can deny 

As he walked to death that morning 

He proudly held his head on high 

Just before he faced the hangman 

In his dreary prison cell 

British soldiers tortured Barry 

Just because he would not tell 

The names of his brave companions 

And other things they wished to know 

"Turn informer or we'll kill you" 

Kevin Barry answered, "No!”

Another martyr for old Ireland 

Another murder for the crown 

Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish 

But can't keep their spirit down 

Lads like Barry are no cowards 

From the foe they will not fly 

Lads like Barry will free Ireland 

For her cause they'll live and die