Local ballad boys write remarkable book

A TRULY unique historical insight into the story of

‘Young Willie MacBride’ written by students from St Paul’s Youth Education Project, Finglas, has been published by Glasnevin Trust

The book is based on and named after the famous ballad

‘the Green Fields of France’ written by Eric Boogle and immortalised by the Furey Brothers and Davy Arthur.

The book was launched earlier this month at Iveagh House by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Andrew Robatham MP and Chairman of Glasnevin Trust, John Green.

The Green Fields Of France was written by Michael McDonagh, Ciaran O’Connor, Aaron Boylan and Jamie Broughan under the guidance of teacher Nora Kielty.

It examines the life of young Willie McBride and looks at questions posed through the song’s legendary lyrics such as who precisely was Willie McBride and why did he die in the trenches of the Somme, almost 100 years ago?

Commenting at The Launch Minister Deenihan TD said:

“It can be difficult sometimes to understand the enormity of the hardship endured by the thousands of young men who, like Willie McBride, fought and died in the trenches during World War One.

“Projects like this one help to put a human face on the enormous and tragic loss of life in that period – the most momentous decade in modern Irish history and a decade that changed the world forever.

?

John Green, Chairman, Glasnevin Trust, publishers of the book, was rich in his praise of the Finglas boys and their teacher:

“These boys have shown extraordinary maturity in their approach and in the quality of their writing on a subject which is truly heart wrenching even at this remove in time,

? he said.

“Glasnevin Trust is particularly pleased to have facilitated the publishing of this exceptional work, as the cemetery is the final resting place of so many Irish people who have given their lives with such honour and selflessness in a variety of causes.

“Special praise must be given to Nora Kielty for fostering this rare piece of scholarship. Glasnevin Trust is honoured to launch this book on such an appropriate day at the start of this momentous decade of centenaries

?

Teacher Nora Kielty said the young writers were inspired to write the book by their love of ballads.

“Starting off with only the date young Willie MacBride was killed, these boys have put in endless hours and have gone on a historical journey that has manifested itself in the form of this fantastic book,

? she said.

“During their research the boys soon discovered that 19 other Willie McBrides were killed in World War One, their origins spanning the length and breadth of the world, from Canada all the way to New Zealand.

“However, through tracing their family history the authors found that all 19 Willie McBrides were of Irish decent.

“From this the boys came to realise that so many Irishmen of different visions of freedom lie buried today side by side in

‘eternal camaraderie’ in the Green Fields of France.

“So in tribute to all Irishmen and Willie MacBrides alike who died during that time the four authors have dedicated the book to them.

?

At the launch the four authors sang the famous ballad

‘The Green Fields of France’ in tribute and were accompanied by Finbar Furey on stage.

The Green Fields of France song has been covered by the likes of Bob Dylan and the Chieftains. Each pupil took a verse of the ballad and through detailed and painstaking research matched its poetic meaning with appropriate historical facts from World War One.

The book is accompanied by a CD with the song recorded by The Furey Brothers and Davy Arthur and is on sale from Glasnevin Museum.