Loughgall Ambush song lyrics and chords
Recorded by Spirit Of Freedom and it's their version that these chords fit. Also recorded by Charlie And The Bhoys, Eire Og, Padraig Mor. Written by Gerry O'Glacain from The Irish Brigade.
[D]We've sung so many [A]songs of fallen [D]heroes
I [G]really thought that [A]I had said it [D]all
But if a [G]song can fill our [A]hearts and raise our [D]spirits,[Bm]
Then I'll [G]sing about our [A]martyrs at [D]Loughgall,
the [D]Irish nation[A] bowed its head in [D]sorrow
Such [G]sadness as this [A]country's seldom [D]known
For[G] Monaghan has [A]lost a gallant [D]soldier
With [G]seven Volun[A]teers from green [D]Tyrone
Oh [G]England do you [A]really think its [D]over
If you [G]do you're going to [A]have to kill us [D]all
For un[G]til you take your [A]murderers out of [D]Ireland,[Bm]
Then we will[G] make them rue the [A]blood spill at Lough[D]gall,[A]
It was [D]on a warm and [A]misty Friday [D]evening
The [G]scent of apple [A]blossom filled the [D]air
That [G]village street seemed [A]quiet and de[D]serted,[Bm]
But [G]hidden eyes were [A]watching every[D]where,[A]
The [D]digger bomb had [A]only reached its [D]target
The [G]trap was sprung and [A]gunfire filled the [D]air
The [G]SAS did [A]not want any [D]prisoners,[Bm]
"[G]Shoot to kill!" their [A]orders were quite [D]clear
They [D]butchered eight brave [A]volunteers that [D]evening
They were [G]kicked and punched in [A]case they were not [D]dead
They [G]dragged them up and [A]down that Armagh [D]village,[Bm]
And [G]filled their bodies [A]full of British [D]lead,[A]
Did you [D]think that it would [A]teach us all a [D]lesson
As such [G]savagery the [A]whole world was ap[D]palled
Don't you [G]know that there's[A] twenty more men [D]waiting,[Bm]
For [G]everyone you [A]butchered at Lough[D]gall
Fare[D]well Paddy [A]Kelly and Jim [D]Lynagh
No [G]more you'll lead your [A]fighting unit [D]forth
Side by [G]side with Pádraig Mc[A]Kearney and Tony [D]Gormaley[Bm]
You [G]died to drive the [A]British from the [D]north[A]
Declan [D]Arthurs and the [A]youthful Seamus [D]Donnelly
On that [G]night you were the[A] youngest of them [D]all
With Gerry O'[G]Callaghan and the [A]gallant Eugene [D]Kelly[Bm]
Oh your [G]blood still stains the [A]pavements at Lough[D]gall
: An Analysis of the Controversial Operation
The Loughgall Ambush, also known as the Loughgall Martyrs, was a highly controversial operation carried out by the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in the small village of Loughgall, Northern Ireland on May 8, 1987. The operation resulted in the deaths of eight members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and one civilian, making it one of the deadliest attacks by security forces during the Troubles. The Loughgall Ambush has been a topic of ongoing debate and scrutiny, with conflicting narratives and interpretations surrounding the events leading up to, during, and after the operation. This thesis will seek to provide a thorough analysis of the Loughgall Ambush, examining its historical context, the planning and execution of the operation, and the various perspectives and controversies surrounding it.
The Troubles, a period of political and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, had been ongoing for over two decades before the Loughgall Ambush. The conflict was primarily between two opposing groups – the Republican paramilitaries, who sought to unify Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, and the Loyalists, who wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. The British government's response to the conflict was to deploy thousands of troops to Northern Ireland, including the SAS, an elite special forces unit. The SAS's primary role in Northern Ireland was to gather intelligence and carry out covert operations against the Republican paramilitaries.
The Loughgall Ambush was planned and executed as part of Operation Flavius, a covert operation aimed at targeting the IRA's East Tyrone Brigade. The East Tyrone Brigade was one of the most active and effective units of the IRA, responsible for numerous attacks on the security forces. The SAS and the RUC received intelligence that the IRA was planning to attack a police station in Loughgall. The operation was authorized by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who reportedly gave the SAS a 'shoot-to-kill' order. This order allowed the SAS to use lethal force without warning, a controversial tactic that had been used in previous operations in Northern Ireland.
On the evening of May 8, 1987, a group of eight IRA members, including the East Tyrone Brigade's commanding officer, were preparing to carry out an attack on the Loughgall police station. Unbeknownst to them, the SAS had been monitoring their movements and had set up an ambush. As the IRA members approached the police station in a stolen digger and van, they were met with a hail of gunfire from the SAS. In a matter of minutes, all eight IRA members were killed, along with one civilian who had been caught in the crossfire. The SAS and the RUC claimed that they acted in self-defense and that the IRA members were armed and posed a threat. However, this version of events has been disputed by many, including the families of the victims and some eyewitnesses.
One of the main controversies surrounding the Loughgall Ambush is the use of the 'shoot-to-kill' policy. The order given by Prime Minister Thatcher has been heavily criticized, with many arguing that it was a violation of human rights and due process. The 'shoot-to-kill' policy had been used in previous operations, such as the infamous 'Gibraltar Three' incident in 1988, where three unarmed IRA members were shot dead by the SAS. The Loughgall Ambush only added to the public's unease and anger towards this tactic, leading to widespread protests and calls for an independent inquiry.
Another contentious issue surrounding the Loughgall Ambush is the lack of warning given to the IRA members. The SAS and the RUC claimed that they had no choice but to open fire, as the IRA members were armed and posed a threat. However, some eyewitnesses have disputed this, stating that the IRA members were unarmed and had no chance to surrender before being shot. This raises questions about the proportionality of the response and whether the SAS and the RUC could have apprehended the suspects without the use of lethal force.
Furthermore, the Loughgall Ambush has been criticized for the death of the civilian, Anthony Hughes, who was shot and killed by the SAS while driving past the scene. The SAS and the RUC maintain that Hughes was caught in the crossfire and was not deliberately targeted. However, this has been disputed by eyewitnesses and the Hughes family, who have accused the security forces of a cover-up. The death of an innocent civilian has only added to the controversy and has been a source of ongoing pain for the Hughes family.
In conclusion, the Loughgall Ambush was a highly controversial operation that has been the subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny. Its historical context, planning and execution, and the various perspectives and controversies surrounding it have all contributed to its notoriety. The use of the 'shoot-to-kill' policy, the lack of warning given to the IRA members, and the death of an innocent civilian have all been major points of contention. The Loughgall Ambush remains a contentious and divisive event, highlighting the complexities and ethical dilemmas of counterinsurgency operations in a conflict zone.
The Loughgall Ambush, also known as the Loughgall Martyrs, was a highly controversial operation carried out by the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in the small village of Loughgall, Northern Ireland on May 8, 1987. The operation resulted in the deaths of eight members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and one civilian, making it one of the deadliest attacks by security forces during the Troubles. The Loughgall Ambush has been a topic of ongoing debate and scrutiny, with conflicting narratives and interpretations surrounding the events leading up to, during, and after the operation. This thesis will seek to provide a thorough analysis of the Loughgall Ambush, examining its historical context, the planning and execution of the operation, and the various perspectives and controversies surrounding it.
The Troubles, a period of political and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, had been ongoing for over two decades before the Loughgall Ambush. The conflict was primarily between two opposing groups – the Republican paramilitaries, who sought to unify Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, and the Loyalists, who wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. The British government's response to the conflict was to deploy thousands of troops to Northern Ireland, including the SAS, an elite special forces unit. The SAS's primary role in Northern Ireland was to gather intelligence and carry out covert operations against the Republican paramilitaries.
The Loughgall Ambush was planned and executed as part of Operation Flavius, a covert operation aimed at targeting the IRA's East Tyrone Brigade. The East Tyrone Brigade was one of the most active and effective units of the IRA, responsible for numerous attacks on the security forces. The SAS and the RUC received intelligence that the IRA was planning to attack a police station in Loughgall. The operation was authorized by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who reportedly gave the SAS a 'shoot-to-kill' order. This order allowed the SAS to use lethal force without warning, a controversial tactic that had been used in previous operations in Northern Ireland.
On the evening of May 8, 1987, a group of eight IRA members, including the East Tyrone Brigade's commanding officer, were preparing to carry out an attack on the Loughgall police station. Unbeknownst to them, the SAS had been monitoring their movements and had set up an ambush. As the IRA members approached the police station in a stolen digger and van, they were met with a hail of gunfire from the SAS. In a matter of minutes, all eight IRA members were killed, along with one civilian who had been caught in the crossfire. The SAS and the RUC claimed that they acted in self-defense and that the IRA members were armed and posed a threat. However, this version of events has been disputed by many, including the families of the victims and some eyewitnesses.
One of the main controversies surrounding the Loughgall Ambush is the use of the 'shoot-to-kill' policy. The order given by Prime Minister Thatcher has been heavily criticized, with many arguing that it was a violation of human rights and due process. The 'shoot-to-kill' policy had been used in previous operations, such as the infamous 'Gibraltar Three' incident in 1988, where three unarmed IRA members were shot dead by the SAS. The Loughgall Ambush only added to the public's unease and anger towards this tactic, leading to widespread protests and calls for an independent inquiry.
Another contentious issue surrounding the Loughgall Ambush is the lack of warning given to the IRA members. The SAS and the RUC claimed that they had no choice but to open fire, as the IRA members were armed and posed a threat. However, some eyewitnesses have disputed this, stating that the IRA members were unarmed and had no chance to surrender before being shot. This raises questions about the proportionality of the response and whether the SAS and the RUC could have apprehended the suspects without the use of lethal force.
Furthermore, the Loughgall Ambush has been criticized for the death of the civilian, Anthony Hughes, who was shot and killed by the SAS while driving past the scene. The SAS and the RUC maintain that Hughes was caught in the crossfire and was not deliberately targeted. However, this has been disputed by eyewitnesses and the Hughes family, who have accused the security forces of a cover-up. The death of an innocent civilian has only added to the controversy and has been a source of ongoing pain for the Hughes family.
In conclusion, the Loughgall Ambush was a highly controversial operation that has been the subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny. Its historical context, planning and execution, and the various perspectives and controversies surrounding it have all contributed to its notoriety. The use of the 'shoot-to-kill' policy, the lack of warning given to the IRA members, and the death of an innocent civilian have all been major points of contention. The Loughgall Ambush remains a contentious and divisive event, highlighting the complexities and ethical dilemmas of counterinsurgency operations in a conflict zone.
