Slán le Pádraig Sáirséal

The backstory to Bonny Prince Charlie was the story of his father, James II (Jakobus in Latin, hence his followers being called Jacobites).  Trying to regain his throne after having been overthrown, and keep the restored Catholic faith in his kingdoms, of course he lost, and lost big, to William of Orange on July 12th 1690 at the Battle of the Boyne.  Orangmen (na fir bhuí) march in the north of Ireland to rub this in and insult the Catholic population every year (the Orange Order wasn't founded until 1795).  The Boyne was to Ireland what Culloden would later be to Scotland, although it took the siege of Limerick and the battle of Aughrim to finish them off.    The treaty of Limerick (which of course the English violated shortly afterwards by imposing the Penal Laws) led to the flight of the Wild Geese, led by Patrick Sarsfield.
This history from so long ago still resonates and that's why the songs of the time are still so popular.  This one is less well known.

This is a song about Sarsfield (Sáirséal) and the departure of the 14,000 or more under him, which was the destruction of all hope for Irish freedom for generations.  It was recorded by Na Casaidigh on their album 1691.

Slán le Pádraig Sáirséal
(chords on the right if you want them)

Notes:  Chuais = chuaigh tú
Gaeil bhocht(a)
Cnoc Bhin Éadair - Howth, NOT Cnoc Fhíodh na gCaor - Vinegar Hill, site of another major defeat in 1798!

The Limerick Treaty Stone