The Boys Of Kilmichael lyrics and chords
The Boys Of Kilmichael, Irish Rebel Song-the video is of Declan Hunt. Also recorded by Derek Warfield Tom Barry was the O.C. of The Third West Cork Brigade and also the training officer. This song details the battle that took place between the flying column of 36 men who took on the British Auxiliaries on the 28 November at 4pm at Kilmichael. The tune used in the song is Rosin The Bow.
The tin whistle sheet music and letter notes for The Boys Of Kilmichael are in my PDF version of my tin whistle book , from this site.
The tin whistle sheet music and letter notes for The Boys Of Kilmichael are in my PDF version of my tin whistle book , from this site.
As we [G] gather in song and in [D] sto[Am]ry the [G] memory of Pearse and [Em] McBride,
Whose [G] names are illumined in [D] glo[Am]ry, and [G] martyrs for [D] long since have [G] died.
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin and [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
[chorus]
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin and [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
On the twentieth day of November, the day that the tans left Macroom.
they were loaded in two crossley tenders not knowing that they'd meet their doom
But when they came to Kilmichael they suddnely came to a stop
For they met with the boys of the column Who made a clean sweep of the lot.
The sun in the West it was sinking for the eve of a cold winters day,
When the Tans who were eagerly waiting sailed into the spot where we lay
Then over the hills went the echo the peal of the rifle and gun
The flames from the lorries gave tidings that the boys from Kilmichael had won.
The lorries were out before twilight and high over Dunmaway Town
Our banners in triumph they were waving just to show that the Tans had gone down
So we gathered our rifles and bayonets and soon left with grin so obscure,
And we never did drink till we halted at the far away camp of Dunure.
So here's to the boys of Kilmichael those brave lads so gallant and true
Who fought 'neath the green flag of Erin and conquered the red, white and blue.
Whose [G] names are illumined in [D] glo[Am]ry, and [G] martyrs for [D] long since have [G] died.
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin and [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
[chorus]
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin and [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
On the twentieth day of November, the day that the tans left Macroom.
they were loaded in two crossley tenders not knowing that they'd meet their doom
But when they came to Kilmichael they suddnely came to a stop
For they met with the boys of the column Who made a clean sweep of the lot.
The sun in the West it was sinking for the eve of a cold winters day,
When the Tans who were eagerly waiting sailed into the spot where we lay
Then over the hills went the echo the peal of the rifle and gun
The flames from the lorries gave tidings that the boys from Kilmichael had won.
The lorries were out before twilight and high over Dunmaway Town
Our banners in triumph they were waving just to show that the Tans had gone down
So we gathered our rifles and bayonets and soon left with grin so obscure,
And we never did drink till we halted at the far away camp of Dunure.
So here's to the boys of Kilmichael those brave lads so gallant and true
Who fought 'neath the green flag of Erin and conquered the red, white and blue.
🎵 “The Boys of Kilmichael”
Includes:
✅ Lyrics above the tab
✅ 3 bars per line
✅ Fingerpicking + strumming pattern
✅ 4/4 Irish march tempo (~80 BPM)
🎶 The Boys of KilmichaelKey: G | Tempo: ♩ = 80 | Time: 4/4 | Style: Irish Folk Ballad / March
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4)↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
1 2 & & 4 &
Use a light, driving rhythm — thumb on bass (beats 1 & 3),
gentle finger or pick strokes on beats 2 & 4.
Fingerpicking pattern:
T – I – M – I (Thumb–Index–Middle–Index)
☘️ Verse 1
As we [G] gather in song and in [D] sto[Am]ry the [G] memory of Pearse and [Em] McBride,
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--2------------------------0------------------------2--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------0--------------------|
G D Am G Em
Whose [G] names are illumined in [D] glo[Am]ry, and [G] martyrs for [D] long since have [G] died.
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------0------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D Am G D G
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true
e|-------0-----------3-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3------------------------2------------------------2--------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------0--------|
C G Em G Em
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin and [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
lua
Copy code
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------0------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D Am G D G
🎵 Chorus
c
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true
e|-------0-----------3-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3------------------------2------------------------2--------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------0--------|
C G Em G Em
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin and [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------0------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D Am G D G
🎵 Chord Reference
G 320003
D xx0232
D7 xx0212
C x32010
Am x02210
Em 022000
Includes:
✅ Lyrics above the tab
✅ 3 bars per line
✅ Fingerpicking + strumming pattern
✅ 4/4 Irish march tempo (~80 BPM)
🎶 The Boys of KilmichaelKey: G | Tempo: ♩ = 80 | Time: 4/4 | Style: Irish Folk Ballad / March
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4)↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
1 2 & & 4 &
Use a light, driving rhythm — thumb on bass (beats 1 & 3),
gentle finger or pick strokes on beats 2 & 4.
Fingerpicking pattern:
T – I – M – I (Thumb–Index–Middle–Index)
☘️ Verse 1
As we [G] gather in song and in [D] sto[Am]ry the [G] memory of Pearse and [Em] McBride,
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--2------------------------0------------------------2--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------0--------------------|
G D Am G Em
Whose [G] names are illumined in [D] glo[Am]ry, and [G] martyrs for [D] long since have [G] died.
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------0------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D Am G D G
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true
e|-------0-----------3-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3------------------------2------------------------2--------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------0--------|
C G Em G Em
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin and [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
lua
Copy code
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------0------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D Am G D G
🎵 Chorus
c
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true
e|-------0-----------3-----------0-----------3-----------0-----------0----|
B|-----1---1-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-------0|
D|--2-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2----------|
A|--3------------------------2------------------------2--------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------0--------|
C G Em G Em
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin and [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
e|-------3-----------2-----------0-----------3-----------2-----------3----|
B|-----0---0-------3---3-------1---1-------0---0-------3---3-------0---0--|
G|---0-------0---2-------2---2-------2---0-------0---2-------2---0-------0|
D|--0-----------0-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0----------|
A|--2------------------------0------------------------0--------------------|
E|--3------------------------------------------------3--------------------|
G D Am G D G
🎵 Chord Reference
G 320003
D xx0232
D7 xx0212
C x32010
Am x02210
Em 022000
🎵 The Boys of Kilmichael
Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate march (around 90 BPM)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
or simply ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Keep a strong first downbeat to match the rhythm of a marching ballad — steady and bold.
(You can also alternate bass notes between G and D strings for a more traditional feel.)
Verse 1
As we [G] gather in song and in [D] sto[Am]ry
The [G] memory of Pearse and [Em] McBride,
Whose [G] names are illumined in [D] glo[Am]ry,
And [G] martyrs for [D] long since have [G] died.
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael,
Those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true,
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin
And [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
Chorus
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael,
Those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true,
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin
And [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
Verse 2
On the [G] twentieth day of No[D]vem[Am]ber,
The [G] day that the tans left [Em] Macroom,
They were [G] loaded in two Crossley [D] tend[Am]ers,
Not [G] knowing they'd [D] meet their [G] doom.
But when they came to [C] Kilmichael,
They [G] suddenly came to a [Em] stop,
For they [G] met with the boys of the [D] col[Am]umn
Who [G] made a clean [D] sweep of the [G] lot.
Verse 3
The [G] sun in the west it was [D] sink[Am]ing,
On the [G] eve of a cold winter's [Em] day,
When the [G] Tans who were eagerly [D] wait[Am]ing,
Sailed [G] into the [D] spot where we [G] lay.
Then over the hills went the [C] echo,
The [G] peal of the rifle and [Em] gun,
The [G] flames from the lorries gave [D] tid[Am]ings
That the [G] boys from Kil[D]michael had [G] won.
Verse 4
The [G] lorries were out before [D] twi[Am]light,
And [G] high over Dunmanway [Em] Town,
Our [G] banners in triumph were [D] wav[Am]ing,
Just to [G] show that the [D] Tans had gone [G] down.
So we gathered our rifles and [C] bayonets,
And [G] soon left with grins so [Em] obscure,
And we [G] never did drink till we [D] halt[Am]ed
At the [G] faraway [D] camp of Dun[G]ure.
Final Verse / Outro
So [G] here’s to the boys of Kil[D]mich[Am]ael,
Those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true,
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin
And [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
🎸 Ending Suggestion
Finish with a single strong G chord strum and let it ring.
You can reprise the chorus once more for a crowd finish.
Key: G Major
Tempo: Moderate march (around 90 BPM)
Time Signature: 4/4
🎸 Suggested Strumming Pattern
Down – Down-Up – Up-Down-Up
or simply ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Keep a strong first downbeat to match the rhythm of a marching ballad — steady and bold.
(You can also alternate bass notes between G and D strings for a more traditional feel.)
Verse 1
As we [G] gather in song and in [D] sto[Am]ry
The [G] memory of Pearse and [Em] McBride,
Whose [G] names are illumined in [D] glo[Am]ry,
And [G] martyrs for [D] long since have [G] died.
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael,
Those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true,
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin
And [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
Chorus
Forget not the boys of [C] Kilmichael,
Those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true,
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin
And [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
Verse 2
On the [G] twentieth day of No[D]vem[Am]ber,
The [G] day that the tans left [Em] Macroom,
They were [G] loaded in two Crossley [D] tend[Am]ers,
Not [G] knowing they'd [D] meet their [G] doom.
But when they came to [C] Kilmichael,
They [G] suddenly came to a [Em] stop,
For they [G] met with the boys of the [D] col[Am]umn
Who [G] made a clean [D] sweep of the [G] lot.
Verse 3
The [G] sun in the west it was [D] sink[Am]ing,
On the [G] eve of a cold winter's [Em] day,
When the [G] Tans who were eagerly [D] wait[Am]ing,
Sailed [G] into the [D] spot where we [G] lay.
Then over the hills went the [C] echo,
The [G] peal of the rifle and [Em] gun,
The [G] flames from the lorries gave [D] tid[Am]ings
That the [G] boys from Kil[D]michael had [G] won.
Verse 4
The [G] lorries were out before [D] twi[Am]light,
And [G] high over Dunmanway [Em] Town,
Our [G] banners in triumph were [D] wav[Am]ing,
Just to [G] show that the [D] Tans had gone [G] down.
So we gathered our rifles and [C] bayonets,
And [G] soon left with grins so [Em] obscure,
And we [G] never did drink till we [D] halt[Am]ed
At the [G] faraway [D] camp of Dun[G]ure.
Final Verse / Outro
So [G] here’s to the boys of Kil[D]mich[Am]ael,
Those [G] brave lads so gallant and [Em] true,
Who [G] fought 'neath the green flag of [D] E[Am]rin
And [G] conquered the [D] red, white and [G] blue.
🎸 Ending Suggestion
Finish with a single strong G chord strum and let it ring.
You can reprise the chorus once more for a crowd finish.
Here's the list of Irish rebel songs sheet music / tin whistle notes in that pdf ebook.
The price is €8.90. You'll be diverted to the download page after payment.
Any problems please let me know. [email protected]
The price is €8.90. You'll be diverted to the download page after payment.
Any problems please let me know. [email protected]
Tom Barry
Similar songs relating to that period in Irish history and the fight against the British occupying forces include ;
Barry's Column -
The Third West Cork Brigade -
The Ballad Of Dan Breen -
Barry's Column -
The Third West Cork Brigade -
The Ballad Of Dan Breen -
The boys of Kilmichael lyrics
