Dying Irish Boy, The

DESCRIPTION: Burt is wounded in battle at Santiago Bay, Cuba, "while Victoria shall reign." He tells his friend, Bill O'Shea, to break the news of his death to his mother and to tell O'Shea's sister Mary that he still loves her.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1960 (Leach-FolkBalladsSongsOfLowerLabradorCoast)
KEYWORDS: army battle death Ireland friend mother soldier
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Feb 15, 1898 - destruction of the U. S. S. Maine
Apr 19, 1898 - Although the Spanish have agreed to all American demands, including peace with the Cuban rebels, the U. S. issues a sort of preliminary declaration of war, listing U. S. goals
Apr 24, 1898 - Spain declares war on the U. S.; the U. S. will next day do the same, backdating it to April 21
May 19, 1898 - The Spanish fleet enters Santiago Bay
July 2, 1898 - The Spanish fleet at Santiago, acting under orders from Madrid, sails out into the teeth of the American fleet and is destroyed
July 10, 1898 - U. S. troops attack Santiago
July 17, 1898 - U. S. troops capture Santiago
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Leach-FolkBalladsSongsOfLowerLabradorCoast 44, "The Dying Irish Boy" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST LLab044 (Partial)
Roud #9988
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Farewell to Slieve Gallen" (plot, themes, setting)
NOTES [55 words]: The ballad must have originally referred to "Columbia" rather than "Victoria." - BS
Or, just possibly, "Victoria" is correct and "Santiago Bay" is wrong, meaning the song might date to some other battle in British history during the reign of Victoria; other than the first verse, there are no real time or place references. - RBW
File: LLab044

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