“Óró Sé Do Bheatha Abhaile” is one of the most famous Irish songs around. Some even claim that it is the most important song in the Irish repertoire because of its history.
The original version of the song was written as a Jacobite song in Scotland. The
Young Pretender is called "Shearlais Oig, a Mhic Re Sheamais" (Young
Charles, King James's grandson"), and he is the one who is welcomed home to
Ireland in 1745. The Irish supported Prince Charlie because they thought if they
helped him, he would remove the English landowners from Ireland, who had taken
so much land. Unfortunately, the Jacobite rebellion did not succeed.
The newer version of the song was written by Padraig Pearse,
who was one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion in 1916. He wrote the lyrics
as an invitation for Irishmen who left the country to come home to fight for
Irish independence. In this version, Gràinne Ni Mhàille (Grace O’Malley)
replaces Prince Charles. Pearse chose her because he wanted an Irish figurehead
instead of a Scottish person, as was the case in the original song. Prince
Charles was also unsuccessful in his rebellion, and Pearse felt like having someone
who was not successful would lead to a lack of inspiration.
On the contrary, O’Malley was the Irish “Pirate Queen” who
had been a symbol of Irish resistance and rebellion. She was a military leader who ruled the seas
off the west coast of Ireland for more than 50 years. She is also seen as
someone who fought against the foreign rule of Ireland.
In Pearse’s version of the song, his lyrics say that the warriors
are “Irish-not French or Spanish,” which is a direct reference and reply to
the original Jacobite version of the song. The song symbolizes welcoming home a
spirit of rebellion with O’Malley as inspiration.
Pearse’s version achieved its goal of reaching over 200,000
Irish soldiers who fought with the British army during World War I. Like many
Irish nationals at the time, Pearse thought that Irish independence would be achieved
if these soldiers would come fight for the Irish.
Today, this song is still sung and celebrated as an ode to
Ireland. The tune kept the original tune. The tune has also been used for the
sea shanty, “Drunken Sailor.” The song was used as a marching song during the
1916 Rebellion.
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