Brewer's: Shan Van Voght

This excellent song (composed 1798) may be called the Irish Marscillaise. The title of it is a corruption of An t-sean bean bochd (the poor old woman—i.e. Ireland). (Holliday-Spurlïng: Irish Minstrelsy, p. 13.) The last verse is—

Will Ireland then be free? Said the Shan Van Voght? (repeat) Yes, Ireland shall be free From the centre to the sea, Hurrah for liberty! Said the Shan Van Voght.

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