IRELAND’S LOYALTY

New Zealand Tablet, 25 February 1915, Page 49

IRELAND’S LOYALTY

Condemned are ye accusers who proclaimed ;. ■ - : That misjudged. Ireland in the nour.of need Would fail Or hesitate ; your words are shamed ' , By Irish loyalty and Irish deed— When Britain called for aid, shall we be told That Ireland’s faith was dead, her answer cold No ! ready when the call of duty came, ■ , . For King and Empire Ireland’s sons arose, : / Patriot hearts with loyalty aflameBy such shall Britain overcome her foes : What men are ye whose libel would disgrace The dauntless spirit of a noble race ? ■ The isle of Erin holds no craven heart, Search ye' the graven record of the past, And mark how Irishmen have borne their part In deeds of Empire that shall ever last. Search ye the honored scroll of Britain’s pride,' And see how Erin’s loyal sons have died. Twas even so when cruel injustice reigned, And persecution filled the land with woe, With Irish blood your battlefields were stained,' For England’s enemy was Ireland’s foe; In every land, beneath the rolling deep, The warrior sons of loyal Ireland sleep". - How oft in Empire’s cause hath Ireland bled ! How deep her heart is pierced by the sword ! \et not in vain a nation’s blood is shed • When freedom’s crown shall be the just reward— Yea now upon the field her blood runs free I, VFor Britain’s cause, and British liberty. Then who shall cast dishonor on her name ? Upon brave hearts the stain of cowardice Ye shall not rob her of her heroes’ fame, The age-long years of sacrifice; For tAith shall triumph, Britain proudly tell How Ireland—loyal Ireland—served her well. — Harold Gallagher. Dunedin.