'The Six'

 

Tuam Martyrs

The Workhouse Tuam –

Outside those gloomy walls,

The Famine victims died in fever and in pain.

The golden grain that spring from Irish soil

Was not for them, for they were slaves,

And by their masters doomed to perish so.

In anguish and in woe,

Now for their souls we pray:

Rest and refreshment, light and holy peace,

Upon this April Day.

Within those walls so grim a spot is marked,

And from His Cross the pitying Christ looks down

Where six men stood to gain the patriot’s crown

Eager and young were they,

Holding their dream until the last,

Until the volley rang, and in their blood they lay.

Bravely they died in manhood’s pride,

Upon that April Day.

Oh, lay the flowers of spring upon that hallowed spot,

Flowers for their dream and for their young lives given

Prayers to the Captain, Christ

Who died on Calvary’s Hill.

That He receive their souls today in Heaven.

Now, not in anger or revenge do we look back,

But like unto the Crucified we humbly pray:

‘Father, forgive,’ they know not what they did

Who doomed those six to die

Upon an April Day.