“The Rising of the Moon” is one of the most popular traditional Irish songs. It has been recorded by a variety of artists, from The Dubliners and Shane MacGowan to the High Kings, and even Peter, Paul, and Mary. The song was written by John Keegan Casey while he was in prison as a Fenian.
The song tells the tale of the battle between the United Irishmen, who were led by Wolfe Tone, and British forces during the Irish
Rebellion of 1798. Throughout the song,
the lyrics have symbolism. "For the pikes must be together at the rising
of the moon" tells of the need for unity and collective action in the
fight for Irish independence.
Instead of focusing on any one battle, the lyrics focus on
the spirit of the 1798 rebels. However, it does reference the battle that took
place in County Longford near the small town of Granard. This battle was chosen
because it was close to Casey’s home in Mullingar.
It is believed that the tune originated in the 1860s, which
was a time of increased Irish nationalism as well as heightened resistance to
British rule in Ireland. The song’s melody is the same as "Wearing of the
Green.” In 1865,
the song lyrics made their first appearance as a poem in the Irish nationalist
newspaper, The Nation. The poem was written by Keegan Casey using the pen name
Leo Casey.
The song was written with the intent to inspire rebels who
were preparing for the Fenian Rebellion of 1867. At the time the song was
written, the Fenians were gaining momentum of their own and were planning their
own rebellion.
This song references the Irish Rebellion of 1798. During
this battle, rebels with pikes fought against highly trained soldiers who
carried muskets and artillery. The rebels did not stand a chance, so they were routed.
In all, more than 400 were killed in this rebellion.
A character by the name of Sean O’Farrell is referenced in
the song. It is not known if this was a real person or if it was merely a local
name used to help set the scene of the song’s story. The song starts off with a
conversation about the plans of the battle and continues with further
preparations. It never actually gives details on the battle itself, though it
concludes with mentioning that the battle was lost.
“The Rising of the Moon” focuses on the heroes of the 1798
rebellion, but it celebrates all of the heroic actions of the past while
inspiring the rebels of the future. Since the release of the song, the phrase “Rising
of the Moon” has become
synonymous with the Irish uprising in arms.
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