The Boys of Wexford
{{Short description|Irish ballad}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
"The Boys of Wexford" (also known as The Flight of the Earls) is an Irish ballad commemorating the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and, more specifically, the Wexford Rebellion. The aim of rebellion was to remove English control from Irish affairs and it resulted in the 1801 Act of Union.{{cite web|last1=Bartlett|first1=Thomas|title=The 1798 Irish Rebellion|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/irish_reb_01.shtml|publisher=BBC}}
History
The ballad was lyrics were composed by Robert Dwyer Joyce[http://www.ludwigmasters.com/products/5057-the-boys-of-wexford-arr-nestico.aspx "The Boys of Wexford" (arr. Nestico), Ludwig Masters Publications] and music by Arthur Warren Darley, who also composed other Wexford ballads, "Boolavogue" and "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".[http://worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20040411113457325 Cómhrá na dTonn, a Book and CD About Irish Traditional Music]
On the Isle of Man, the tune is known as Yn Speigh Er My Gealin (The Pick On My Shoulder).
Popular culture
In James Joyce's novel Ulysses, in the Circe episode, a navvy shouts, "We are the boys. Of Wexford."{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wfzYCgAAQBAJ&q=boys+of+wexford+ulysses&pg=PT262|title=Ulysses: Ulysses|last=Novels|first=Top 100 Classic|date=2015-11-03|publisher=谷月社|language=en}}
JFK
On the second day of President John F Kennedy's four-day trip to Ireland in June 1963, school children sang The Boys of Wexford and Kelly the Boy from Killanne for the President.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/27/newsid_4461000/4461115.stm|title=1963: Warm welcome for JFK in Ireland|accessdate=February 23, 2012|publisher=BBC | date=June 27, 1963}}[http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/he-sang-boys-of-wexford-with-us-1.1423244 O'Connell, Brian. "He sang ‘Boys of Wexford’ with us", The Irish Times, June 19, 2013] When asked if he'd like another song, Kennedy replied, "Another verse of The Boys of Wexford would be fine". Before leaving, he asked one of the students for a copy of the lyrics.[http://www.independent.ie/life/jfk/jfk-said-another-verse-of-the-boys-of-wexford-would-be-fine-29346225.html Clifford, Graham. "JFK said another verse of 'The Boys of Wexford' would be fine", Independent, June 6, 2013]
The melody, from a traditional Irish folk song, was arranged for the United States Marine Band at the request of President Kennedy, whose ancestors hailed from Wexford. The arrangement was done by noted composer and arranger Samuel L. Nestico.
The tune, orchestrated by Nelson Riddle, was later used for the opening and closing theme of the 1964 television series Profiles in Courage, based on Kennedy's book of the same name.
The song also held a prominent place in the political rallies of his younger brother, Senator Ted Kennedy.
Recordings
The Wolfe Tones recorded the song on their debut 1965 album The Foggy Dew. Irish folk group, The Clancy Brothers, also recorded "The Boys of Wexford" on the 1995 album, Older But No Wiser.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Irish rebel songs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boys of Wexford, The}}
Category:Ballads of the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Category:Songs written by Patrick Joseph McCall
{{folk-song-stub}}