Sad are the homes 'round Garryowen
Since lost their joy and pride
And the banshee cry links every vale
Along the Shannon's side
That city of the ancient walls
Unbroken city stone
Undying fame surround your name
Sean South of Garryowen

Twas on a dreary New Year's Eve
As the shades of night came down
A lorry-load of volunteers
Approached the border town
There were men from Dublin and from Cork
Fermanagh and Tyrone
And the leader was a Limerick man
Sean South from Garryowen

And as they moved along the street
Up to the barracks door
They scorned the danger they might face
Their fate that lay in store
They were fighting for Old Ireland
To claim their very own
And the foremost of this gallant band
Was South from Garryowen

But the sergeant spoiled their daring plan
He spied them through the door
The sten guns and the rifles
A hail of death did pour
And when that awful night was past
Two men lay as cold as stone
There was one from near the border
And one from Garryowen

No more he'll hear the seagulls cry
Or the murm'ring Shannon tide
For he fell beneath that northern sky
Brave Hanlon by his side
He has gone to join that gallant band
Of Plunkett, Pearse and Tone
A martyr for Old Ireland
Sean South from Garryowen