Johnston's Motor Car
Johnston's Motor Car is an Irish rebel song written by Willie Gillespie based on the commandeering in Ulster of a motor car belonging to Henry Maturin Johnston (1851-1932) by the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
History
The song is based on a real event in April 1921. An Irish Republican Army unit needed transport to a town over fifty miles away, but had no car to carry them. They decided to call out Henry M. Johnston, a doctor based in Stranorlar, and then ambush him and his car at a bridge and commandeer the car for the IRA. Johnston was sent a telegraph[1] asking him to attend to a Mrs Boyle. On his way there, he found the Reelin Bridge in Glenfin barricaded by the IRA, who forced him to give them his car.[2] In 2019, retired Ballybofey businessman Cathal McHugh claimed to have found what he believes to be the remnants of the vehicle under a turf stack in County Donegal.[3]
Composition
William Gillespie, a poet from
Original Lyrics
- Down by Brockagh Corner one morning I did stray,
- When I met another rebel bold, who this to me did say:
- I've orders from the Captain to assemble at Drumbar
- But how are we to reach Dungloe without a Motor Car?
- O Barney dear, be of good cheer and I'll tell you what we'll do.
- The Black and Tans have plenty guns altho' we have but few.
- We'll wire down to Stranorlar before we walk so far,
- And we'll give the boys a jolly ride on Johnston's Motor Car.
- When Johnston got the wire then he soon pulled on his shoes.
- He says this case is urgent, there's little time to lose.
- He wore a fancy caster hat and on his breast a star.
- You could hear the din going through Glenfin of Johnston's Motor Car.
- When he came to the Reelin Bridge, he met some rebels there.
- He knew the game was up with him, and at them he did stare.
- He said I've got a permit for travelling out so far
- You can keep your English permit, but we want your motor car.
- What will my loyal comrades say when I get to Drumboe.
- To say my car was commandeered by rebels from Dungloe.
- We'll give you a receipt for her, its signed by Captain Maher,
- And when Ireland's free, then we will see to Johnston's Motor Car.
- They put the car in motion, they filled it to the brim.
- With guns and bayonets shining, while Johnston he did grin.
- When Barney waved a Sinn Féin flag, she shot off like a star
- And they gave three cheers for freedom and for Johnston's Motor Car.
- When the loyal crew they heard the news, it grieved their hearts full sore.
- They swore they'd have reprisals before they would give o'er.
- In vain they searched through Glenties, the Rosses and Kilcar,
- While the I.R.A. their flags displayed on Johnston's Motor Car.
Popular Lyrics
- 'Twas down by Brannigan's Corner, one morning I did stray
- I met a fellow rebel, and to me he did say
- "We've orders from the captain to assemble at Drumbar
- But how are we to get there, without a motor car?"
- "Oh, Barney dear, be of good cheer, I'll tell you what we'll do
- The Specials they are plentiful and the IRA are few
- We'll send a wire to Johnston to meet us at Stranorlar
- And we'll give the boys a bloody good ride in Johnston's Motor Car.
- When Doctor Johnston heard the news he soon put on his shoes
- He says this is an urgent case, there is no time to lose
- He then put on his castor hat and on his breast a star
- You could hear the din all through Glenfin of Johnston's motor car.
- But when he got to the railway bridge, some rebels he saw there
- Old Johnston knew the game was up, for at him they did stare
- He said "I have a permit, to travel near and far"
- "To hell with your English permit, we want your motor car."
- "What will my loyal brethren think, when they hear the news
- My car it has been commandeered, by the rebels at Dunluce?"
- "We'll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr
- And when Ireland gets her freedom, you'll get your motor car."
- Well we put that car in motion and filled it to the brim
- With guns and bayonets shining which made old Johnston grim
- And Barney hoisted a Sinn Féin flag, and it fluttered like a star
- And we gave three cheers for the IRA and Johnston's Motor Car.
Recordings
- The Clancy Brothers, In Person at Carnegie Hall(1963)
- Dominic Behan, Easter Week and after (1965) [4]
- The Dubliners, Plain and Simple (1973)
- The Flying Column, Four Green Fields (1972)
- Renaud, Molly Malone – Balade irlandaise (2009) - A French translation
References
- ^ Osborne, Michael. "Dr. Johnston's Motor Car". Maturins and Johnston. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "William Gillespie". Finn Valley People. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
- ^ "IRA's Johnston's Motor Car made famous by The Dubliners found in Donegal after almost 100 years". The Irish News. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
- ^ Tunney, Paddy (1965). Easter Week and After (liner notes) (PDF) (Media notes). Topic Records. p. 5. TSDL044.