Mullingar men's Grace named at 11 in Today FM 100 greatest Irish songs of all time
Could a Joe Dolan song feature in the top 10..?
Grace by The Wolfe Tones has been named at number 11 in the Today FM greatest Irish songs of all time, as voted by their listeners.
The top 10 will be announced tomorrow – what are the chances Joe Dolan will feature?
Grace has important Mullingar and Castlepollard links.
It was written by Sean and Frank O’Meara, and the publishing rights are owned by businessman and former politician Donie Cassidy and his son Peter.
The original recording of the song was a huge hit for folk singer Jim McCann on its release in 1986 and stayed in the Irish charts for more than six months.
Since then, the song has been recorded by more than 100 artists, including Rod Stewart, The Dubliners, Foster and Allen, and The Wolfe Tones.
Donie says the fact that the song is more popular than ever is a testament to the songwriting abilities of its creators, Sean and Frank O’Meara.
In recognition of their contributions to music, Donie, Peter, Frank and Sean were presented with Gradam Na hÉigse awards by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann at a ceremony on the steps of the Cathedral of Christ the King during the 2023 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Grace
Composed by Frank and Seán O’Meara
As we gather in the chapel here in old Kilmainham Gaol
I think about these past few weeks, oh will they say we’ve failed?
From our school days, they have told us we must yearn for liberty
Yet, all I want in this dark place is to have you here with me
Chorus:
Oh Grace, just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
They’ll take me out at dawn and I will die
With all my love, I place this wedding ring upon your finger
There won’t be time to share our love for we must say goodbye
Now, I know it’s hard for you, my love, to ever understand,
The love I bear for these brave men, my love for this Dear land
But when Pádhraic called me to his side down in the GPO
I had to leave my own sick bed, to him I had to go
Chorus:
Oh Grace, just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
They’ll take me out at dawn and I will die
With all my love, I place this wedding ring upon your finger
There won’t be time to share our love for we must say goodbye
Now as the dawn is breaking, my heart is breaking too
On this May morn, as I walk out, my thoughts will be of you
And I’ll write some words upon the wall so everyone will know
I love so much that all I could see his blood upon the Rose.
Chorus:
Oh Grace, just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
They’ll take me out at dawn and I will die
With all my love, I place this wedding ring upon your finger
There won’t be time to share our love for we must say goodbye
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Previous articles about the song Grace here.