KILKENNY BY THE NORE LYRICS

​Recorded by Rita And Sarah Keane


Mother a grá I am leaving you now 
To the war I am forced to go
To fight for the cause of my country dear 
Where the pretty green shamrock grows 
Tis sorry I am to be leaving you now 
But you know I'll return once more 
When the fighting is done
And the battle is won
To Killkenny by the nore

These words he spoke just at eventide 
To his mother so fond and true 
The tears fell fast as he took her hand 
To bid her his last adieu
Then stepping quickly he turned aside 
As he marched through the open door 
He heaved a sigh as he bade goodbye 
To Killkenny by the nore

The years sped along as one by one 
Fell each soldier so brave and true
Not a line from her son to his mother did come
From the lines where the bullets flew

Yet ever she prayed
For the one who had strayed
Yet she prayed heid return once more 
To the home that he left
Where in childhood he played
To Killkenny by the nore

The pale moon shone down on the battle field 
Where the battles were lost and won
The wild birds flew over the wounded heroes 
Who would ne'er see the morrow's sun 

And there in the quiet of a moonlit night
 A dying young soldier lay 
His comrades stood round As he lay on the ground
The words at length did say
Tell my mother how bravely I fought

And fell as a soldier may
With her picture held close to my bleeding breast
And my life's blood was ebbing away 
Tell her 'tis home never shall I roam 
I shall ne'er see her face anymore.

 Or the home that I left Where in my 
childhood I played To Killkenny by the nore
Slowly and sadly they laid to rest
In the spot where he fought and fell
No stone or no mark

O'er his cold narrow grave
His deeds or his bravery to tell
Tis there quite forgotten
He sleeps his last sleep
'Neath the shamrock he fought for of yore
Except for the one
Who is praying for him still
To Killkenny by the nore