The Croppy Boy remembered with pike and song

At Geneva Barracks that young man died
And at Passage they have his body laid
Good people who live in peace and joy
Breathe a prayer, shed a tear for the Croppy Boy.

By Dan Walsh who attended ‘By Hooke or by Crooke’

Inspired by a stirring ballad, organised with passion and pride, and held in atrocious weather conditions defied by marching representatives from Wexford, Waterford, Carlow, Kildare and Meath a moving 1798 commemoration event took place at the grave of The Croppy Boy in Crook graveyard today (Saturday).

The programme was curtailed due to unrelenting rain but proceeded with the short march of pikemen from the village of Passage East to Crook Graveyard led by lone piper Liam Doyle from Enniscorthy.

Proud groups battled against the wind to display their patriotic banners including pike groups from Boolavogue, Oulart, Monageer and Carrigbyrne, members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society and the Battle of Ashbourne Historical Re-eneactment Society from Meath.

At the grave of The Croppy Boy a firing party sent out a volley of shots, Ray Murphy from Enniscorthy and Frank Cox from Monageer, each laid a wreath and Breda Jacob from Oulart read a piece ‘as Gaeilgle’ entitled ‘Bás an Croppy’.

Folklorist and organiser Michael Fortune told the gathering; “We have no definitive evidence to say a poor Croppy was buried here but the story exists in local folk memory and we there is no denying that thousands of United Irishmen were held prisoner in the nearby Geneva Barracks. So, in some ways we are remembering the spirit of the Croppy Boy and all of those men, young and old, in this commemoration.”

It was a special occasion for Tim Corrigan who never fails to attend 1798 commemoration events and confesses a fondness for the popular song (also recorded by the great Brendan Bowyer and The Royal Showband) is ‘The Croppy Boy’. Afterwards, Tim confessed to WexfordLocal.com it was a special occasion for him to sing his favourite ballad at the grave of a croppy and be part of ‘living history’.

Tim Corrigan and his friends, Margaret O’Neill Wall and Seamus Corrigan travelled to Crook graveyard last June and located the grave of a croppy. It was overgrown and neglected, but with the support of locals were afforded permission to restore respect and memory to the grave. The bushes were cleared, and a new kerbing and plaque were laid. Today was the day to celebrate and Tim Corrigan headlined the occasion with his unique rendition of ‘The Croppy Boy’ and those present loudly applauded.

Michael Fortune acted as master of ceremonies and thanked everybody who braved the elements, in particular, the staff at the Passage East Hurling Club Community Centre who provided excellent facilities and ensured plenty of refreshments for everybody who attended a memorable day on the 225^th anniversary of the Rebellion of 1798.