Óglaigh na hÉireann

A tribute music video recorded by the player's brigade in honour of the "Alan Ryan Memorial Society"

Alan Ryan Memorial Society: http://www.facebook.com/#!/...


The Ballad of Alan Ryan

Alan joined the movement,
When he was seventeen,
With a burning passion for justice,
He was young, bold and keen,
He raised his gun for Ireland,
Against the forces of the crown,
He served his time in a Portlaoise cell,
Then returned to Dublin town.
Relentless in his goals,

On the move both day and night,
To help those who suffer,
Alan never ceased to fight.
Unshaken by the media,
Unbroken, always strong,
Defiance ever in his eyes,
To right his countries wrongs.
CHORUS
You thought his death would break us?
Or make us go away?
No, our fight has just begun,
We will make those cowards pay,
In his name we are united,
We are stronger than before,
Dignified and proud,
We vow to settle up the score.
Throughout the streets of Dublin,
He was feared by the thugs,
For Alan never thought twice,
When he spied them dealing drugs.
Threatened by the gangsters,
He refused to hide away,
For he would not be bullied,
In the open he would stay.
On a quiet Monday afternoon,
Alan was attacked,
When a cowardly gunman sneaked along,
And shot him in the back.
When he fell and hit the ground,
His killer did not retreat,
He riddled our brave comrade,
He lay lifeless on the street.
CHORUS
Harassed by the special branch,
They never gave him peace,
And where were they that Monday,
When his young life did cease?
We vow to carry on his work,
We will follow in his lead,
We will find out where those gangsters lurk,
We will avenge their cowardly deed.
To his friends he was a gentleman,
He was always around,
A smile as bright as the sun,
He would never let you down.
There will never be another,
Like our brave Alan Ryan,
But he had many brothers,
And comrades down the line.
CHORUS
We wont let them criminalise you,
Selfless volunteer,
You gave your life for others,
You always showed no fear,
What a brave IRA soldier,
You had a heart of gold,
We will never forget you,
Or let your brave deeds go untold.
CHORUS
Your gone,
Your gone,
But you live on,
In our memories.