The Wolfe Tones

Wolfe Tones heap more misery on Trim

With the news that Meath would face Louth in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers fresh in his mind, Cian Ward staked his claim for a starting berth as he inspired Wolfe Tones to an easy SFC victory over Trim at Dunderry on Sunday evening.

Ward was ridiculously outstanding against a very limited Trim side as he gave the Meath management a timely reminder of his magnificent talent and he must surely have booked his place in the starting 15 against Louth.

The Wolfe Tones ace finished with 1-10 to his credit, 1-3 from play. But it wasn't just his free-taking that impressed as he was a constant thorn in the Trim side.

Trim had no answer and their embarrassing display was compounded by the dismissal of Frankie Murphy with 13 minutes remaining. Murphy was unlucky to depart on his own as he was involved in a tussle with Stephen Corrigan which earned the Wolfe Tones man just a yellow card.

Trim can have no excuses. They simply weren't good enough and were outplayed in every sector. Only Derek Donohoe looked to cause Wolfe Tones problems as he gave Ciaran McLoughlin a torrid time, but once the supply to Donohoe was cut off Wolfe Tones were on easy street.

Wolfe Tones are still in the process of rebuilding and with impressive displays from newcomers Donal Fogarty, Shane Glynn and Eanna Harrington and solid backing from old hands Darren McGrath, Alan Fox, Corrigan and Niall McLoughlin they had the measure of Trim.

The quality of football in the early stages was poor, but there was enough excitement to keep the crowd entertained.

Ward gave an indication of his obvious class with a point inside 30 seconds, but Paul Gilsenan converted a free three minutes later to bring Trim level.

Both sides missed chances with Trim clearing the ball off the line before Michael Lowther struck the upright. Ward trebled his tally and Harrington was also on target as Wolfe Tones ended the opening quarter with a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

That lead was stretched to 0-8 to 0-1 in the next eight minutes with Ward (two frees), McGrath and Stephen Sheppard on target. Donohoe, making his first appearance of the campaign, lofted over a brilliant point before Anthony Kane was fouled by Fogarty. Gilsenan netted the resultant penalty and two minutes later another Donohoe point left Trim 1-3 to 0-8 adrift at the break.

Interview: The Wolfe Tones « Pop-Break.com

Pop-Break: Your sound has been described as “Irish Rebel Music.” To the uneducated ear, many people would probably say, “Oh, that’s just Irish music.” Can you explain the difference between traditional Irish music and Irish rebel music?

Brian Warfield: “Give me the makers of a people’s ballads, and I care not who makes her laws.”

Ireland has a long tradition of bards, ballads singers and traveling musicians, a tradition spanning over two thousand years. The bards of old Gaelic order held a very special place in the kingdoms. This remained so but was weakened with each invasion until the Gaels were finally beaten by the Williamites ending in 1692 with the treaty of Limerick. Since then, the bards either went abroad, played for the new aristocracy like O’Carolan or faded into the peasant population. On the other hand, England has a long tradition of persecuting Irish bards rymers and ballad makers. There is long list of laws passed by successive governments against them. Poynings’ Law forbade Irish names, dress and bards to those of the English race who were becoming more Irish than the Irish themselves.

Once again, the Statutes of Killenny reinforced the same. Henry VIII enacted similar laws. Then, Elizabeth forbade Irish bards roaming the land, yet both she and her father had many Irish musicians in their court. Cromwell sent the Irish to hell or to Connaught but did not allow them take there instruments with them. The final blow was the penal laws implemented by William and Mary and consolidated by Anne, which broke the terms of treaty of Limerick. During the reigns of the Georges, it came to a point that the writer or singers were not even allowed to mention Ireland in a song, so the ballad-maker used allegorical names like Roisin Dubh my dark Roseleen or the Sean Bhan Boct the poor old woman. It was forbidden to praise any other person other than the king. In these troubled times, the ballad singer carried the stories and history of Ireland around the country from town to town, from Market to Market and to all sporting events and gatherings.

Wherever they found an audience, they sang ballads that carried the latest news stories of Irish heroes, political events, revolutions abroad, emigration, etc. Just like The Wolfe Tones do today.

The message in their songs and ballads were feared by the colonial authorities so much,so they outlawed songs of rebellious nature, anything they disapproved of, calling them rebel songs or treasonable ballads. Those caught singing them were subject to transportation or death. Michael Dwyer, the great Irish hero of Wicklow, was given 50 lashes by Captain Blythe of mutiny fame while he was governor for singing a rebel song. They entertained all who would listen and had to be careful of informers, government officials or those calibrating with English rule. Remember, all other means of expression was closed off to the Irish people. Most of the newspapers of the various Irish political movements over the years when seen as a threat were closed down, their printing presses confiscated. So the popularity of the ballad singer was no surprise, they were the only ones carrying the story of Ireland from an Irish prospective. There are many instances of ballad singers been arrested during the war of independence. A man was arrested for treason for having a copy of the song “God Save Ireland” in his house.

The Wolfe Tones, spirit of the nation (CD).

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Wolfe Tones

The Providence plantations for two hundred and fifty years, an historical review of the foundation, rise, and progress of the city of Prividence ... Also, sketches of the cities of New Port and Pawtucket, and other towns of the state, for which Providence is the commercial centre, together with an account of the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Providence. Being an historical souvenir of this occasion