The Enniskillen Dragoon facts for kids

"The Enniskillen Dragoon" is a famous Irish folk song. It's also known as "Enniskillen Dragoon" or "The Enniskillen Dragoons". The song is connected to the Inniskilling Dragoons. This was a British Army regiment based in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, in what is now Northern Ireland. The tune of this song was even used as the regiment's special quick march. The oldest words of the song tell a story. They are about a local lady who falls in love with a soldier from the regiment.

People have enjoyed this song for a long time. Someone named E. M. Morphy heard it in Toronto in 1835. He had just arrived from Enniskillen. In 1870, William Frederick Wakeman said it was a very popular old song. It was especially loved near Lough Erne.

The Song's History and Popularity

The song "The Enniskillen Dragoon" was sung all over Ireland. Patrick Weston Joyce, a famous Irish collector, learned it when he was very young. He wrote down the words over 50 years before 1909. He found them in a newspaper and on old song sheets.

Joyce later shared the song's tune from his memory. He gave it to Dr. George Sigerson. Sigerson then wrote new words for the song. This new version was published in a book called "Irish Song Book." This was the first time the song's tune appeared in print.

New Versions of the Song

In the 1960s, a musician named Tommy Makem created new verses for the song. He thought the original verses were a bit hard to understand. But he loved the chorus, which was easy to sing. Makem's new verses describe the soldiers' experiences. They talk about their service in the Peninsular War. This was a big war fought in Spain and Portugal.

Makem renamed his version "Fare Thee Well Enniskillen". He performed it with the famous Irish folk group, the Clancy Brothers. This helped the song become popular with new audiences.

What the Song is About

The original song tells a story of love and duty. It's about a young lady and a soldier.

The song starts with a "beautiful damsel." She is a gentleman's daughter. She sees the dragoons marching by their barracks. She stops her coach to watch them. The soldiers look very smart. They wear bright uniforms. They have shining swords and guns. She notices one soldier in particular. She loves her "Enniskillen dragoon."

The lady, named Flora, talks to her soldier, Willy. She is sad he has joined the army. She says he has "listed full soon." Willy tells Flora he must serve. He explains that her parents don't like him. They are afraid she will marry a soldier.

Flora reminds Willy to obey his parents. But she also says things will change. When the soldiers leave Ireland, people will wish them well. They will say, "The Lord may be with you, Enniskillen dragoon."

The song ends with a farewell. The soldiers say goodbye to Enniskillen and Ireland. They promise to return when the war is over. They hope to come back "in full bloom." Then, everyone will welcome home the "Enniskillen dragoon."

Different Song Endings

Patrick Weston Joyce's version of the song is very similar. In his version, Flora is from Monaghan town. In 1966, a song collector recorded a version sung by Eddie Butcher. This version was a slow, sad tune. Another version from 1930 has a happy ending. In that version, Willy and Flora get married.