THE  GATES  OF  PORTLAOISE

Air: Five Miles From Bangor To Donaghadee

( 19 IRA prisoners escaped when the gates of

Portlaoise Prison were blasted open on August 18^th 1974. )

by

SEAMUS  ROBINSON   © 1974

 

On the 18^th of August in seventy-four,

In Portlaoise Prison some Provies felt sore;

So they held a big meeting and made up their mind,

To be out of that prison before closing time.

Closing time – closing time,

To be out of that prison before closing time

 

Up spoke a brave Provie:  now here’s what we’ll do,

We’ll get us some gelly and blast our way through.

Leave word for the Governor and say we can’t wait,

For we’ve unfinished business outside of the gate.

Of the gate – of the gate,

For we’ve unfinished business outside of the gate.

 

Before very long the big bombs were a-fizzin’,

The explosions were heard ninety miles from the prison;

The gates of Portlaoise were blown away,

And out strolled nineteen of the bold I.R.A.

Aye-ah-ray  ---  aye-ah-ray,

And out strolled nineteen of the bold I.R.A.

 

Oh they say that in Dublin it is very sad,

There’s poor Mr. Cosgrave, he took it quite bad;

And Cooney’s going loony, he cries all the day,

‘Cause he couldn’t keep hold of the bold I.R.A.

Aye-ah-ray  ---  aye-ah-ray,

‘Cause he couldn’t keep hold of the bold I.R.A.

 

Now all Irish people wherever you be,

Salute the brave Provies who fight to be free;

And always remember that wonderful day,

When the boys blew the gates of Portlaoise away.

Ah – away  ---  ah – away,

When the boys blew the gates of Portlaoise away.

 

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