I want to mention two beautiful songs which commemorate the 1916 rising.

The first is “Grace”. This version is performed by The Dubliners”.

The song remembers Grace Gifford who married Joseph Plunkett in Kilmainham Goal a few hours before he was executed. I learned on the walking tour a few weeks ago that they only had 10 minutes together after the marriage, in a small cell filled with soldiers. More details are available here and here.

This sad and beautiful song has been playing in my head for the last week.

The second is “The Foggy Dew”. This version is by Sinead O’Connor and the Chieftains and is from the latter’s fabulous album “The Long Black Veil”.