Tradition with a Touch of Class

Today my World Geography class and I finished off our first section related to land and water forms, which means we are moving along pretty good. The material isn't too challenging and the students, for the most part, are getting it. I had them working quite a bit this week with questions and case study material related to mountain types, etc., so I thought I'd give them a treat at the end of the week.

Well it's a treat for me anyway. Not all people like traditional music, but I thought I'd try it out on them in case they liked it. To be somewhat related to the course material I brought in my guitar to sing "The Galtee Mountain Boy". This is a lovely ballad about the anti-treaty movement in Ireland in the first half of the 20th century. This group opposed the "Free Staters" who wanted peace and a treaty with England to end the fighting during the Irish War of Independence. The people mentioned in the song were leading members of the anti-treaty group and had varying levels of involvement in the action. The "flying column" is a small, guerrilla type band of soldiers who roamed the mountains and raided from their outlaw posts in the hills. The lyrics are as follows:

THE GALTEE MOUNTAIN BOY
by Patsy Halloran

"I joined the flying column in nineteen and sixteen,
In Cork with Seán Moylan, in Tipperary with Dan Breen.
Arrested by Free Staters and sentenced for to die...
Farewell to Tipperary," said the Galtee Mountain Boy.

"We went across the valleys and over the hilltops green
Where we met with Dinny Lacey, Seán Hogan and Dan Breen
Seán Moylan and his gallant men, who kept the flag flying high...
Farewell to Tipperary," said the Galtee Mountain Boy.

"We trekked the Wicklow Mountains, we were rebels on the run.
Though hunted night and morning, we were outlaws but free men.
We trekked the Dublin Mountains as the sun was shining high...
Farewell to Tipperary", said the Galtee Mountain Boy.

"I’ll bid farewell to old Clonmel that I never more shall see
And to the Galtee Mountains that oftimes sheltered me,
To the men who fought for their liberty and died without a sigh...
May their cause be ne’er forgotten," said the Galtee Mountain Boy.

And a map I provided for the kids:



As it happens, the kids seemed to really like it. It helped them not do work as well, so this is now doubt a reason why. But who knows, maybe someone enjoyed hearing it.