“The Jackets Green”

Description

"When I was a maiden young and fair on the pleasant banks of the Lee," the girl loved young Donal in his jacket green. Donal serves under Sarsfield in the fight against the English and is slain. The singer urges Irish women to love only Irish patriots

Notes

Patrick Sarsfield, made Earl of Lucan by James II, was one of the Irish cavalry commanders.

After Aughrim (for which see "After Aughrim's Great Disaster"), he defended Limerick, but seeing that his cause was hopeless, he made a treaty with William III and surrendered. (This was not a betrayal of the Irish cause; Sarsfield gained significant concessions, including religious tolerance, in return for ending Irish resistance.) - RBW

Broadside LOCSinging as106510 looks like the Bodleian Brereton broadsides but all are difficult to read. - BS

Historical references

  • 1690 - Battle of the Boyne. William III crushes the Irish army of James, at once securing his throne and the rule of Ireland

Broadsides

  • Bodleian, Johnson Ballads 3214, "The Jacket Green," P. Brereton (Dublin), c.1867; also 2806 c.7(38)[some words illegible], "The Jacket Green"
  • LOCSinging, as106510[barely legible], "The Jacket Green," unknown, 19C

Recordings

  • John Sheridan, "The Jackets Green" (on USBallinsloeFair)

References

  1. PGalvin, pp. 97-98, "The Jackets Green" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Healy-OISBv2, pp. 38-39, "The Jacket Green" (1 text, tune on pp. 20-21)
  3. Roud #9520
  4. BI, PGa097

About

Author: Michael Seanlan
Earliest date: 1928 (for USBallinsloeFair, according to site irishtune.info, Irish Traditional Music Tune Index: Alan Ng's Tunography, ref. Ng #2612)