The Gay and Gallant Gael

When the gay and gallant Gael were alive in the Land
The lays were lightning flashes, the lore a blazing brand;
Brave and bright-eyed princes met bards with honour grand —
When the gay and gallant Gael were alive in the Land!

Full gracious were the chieftains, the champion men of might,
The scatt'ring shatt'ring Spears of Fame, the Shields of Valour bright!
Most modest, mild, and mirthful, each beauteous maiden bland,
When the gay and gallant Gael were alive in the Land!

Ah, did our fathers live the life, those peerless knights of yore,
The Sire of all the Munster land — the dauntless Eogan Mor,
Mac Airt, Mac Cuinn, or that high host, the fearless Finnian band —
They would drive like shiv'ring sheep the gaunt Gall from the Land.

O, did they live the life again, those hero-hosts so gay,
Who fought with Conn the Hundred Fights, with Eogan urged the fray,
Or had we here Turgesius's foes — the Gall would flee the strand,
And the gay and gallant Gael be alive in the Land!