FAO Spacekitten.

Firstly let me start by saying that nowhere in TW's post does he say that "The Loughall Ambush" was written by Eire Og. He makes the statement in his second post " here is another song by Eire Og" (which incidentally is one of our songs). At no place on this website, or another website, or anywhere else in print or audio will you be able to back up your allegation.

I do not , nor does any other band member claim to write songs that we have not. In fact your mother is credited on the back cover of my cd "Live in Glasgow" as the author of the song Pearse Jordan. If I wanted to dupe people into thinking I wrote the song, why would I credit your mother with the song?

It also seems that you misunderstand how the whole process of copyright works. I cannot steal, even if I wanted to, the copyright of a song that does not belong to me. On no ocassion have I attempted to steal copyright, again another baseless accusation on your part.

The song "Go on Home British Soldiers" was in fact written by a fella named Tommy Skelly who played with the band "South Dublin Union", a very nice man whom I had the pleasure of playing with in Glasgow on a couple of occassions. Again, nowhere have I claimed I wrote this song.

On a final note, let me finish by saying that I have nothing but respect for the "Irish Brigade", their music and songs included. I know each member of the band personally and have done so for a number of years. However, I won't allow you to spread unfounded and un-true allegations against me and my former band mates. Especially without a hint of proof or evidence to back it up.

Best Wishes

Gary Og

Things do get sort of prickly when you want to talk about who "owns" a song. Indeed the author should be credited with his work, but does that mean that the listener gives up all rights to that music as well? As music lovers we all have "our songs", those pieces of music that have moved our spirits to finer things and have become a part of who we are. Must we then give up those rights?

I'm trying this quote thing, and I will probably make a mess of it, but here goes:




I once heard of a woman who went to Saudi Arabia and was speaking to some Arabs about our government. They said "Oh, we don't hate Americans, we just hate their government" to which she replied: "I live in a democracy. The people ARE the government".

As far as I am aware, both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are democracies as well. They both have elected representatives. I am a very law-respecting person. I think that due process is the only way to handle political problems in modern society. It isn't always perfect, but I believe it's the best system humans have ever designed to maintain order and establish justice. Therefore, I think that voting, electing representatives, and trying criminals in court with fair trials is the only way to establish justice. Anything else is just vigilantism.

I have rarely met anyone from either Ireland, England or anywhere else in the British Isles who wanted anything to do with any of the fighting, to be honest! But this group is interesting, here...you all seem bent on fighting this war and, when I stumble onto the website, I find Americans involved, and people telling ME to get involved too. All I can say is, it would take a lot more than some people on a website to convince me to participate in such a war. I think in truth I'd have to live there to even consider it.



If this happened, today, in America, I would fight. I would also have the entire US military and American population standing behind me, for which I am very grateful.

But, if someone said we could go to the polls and vote against such a thing, I would definitely choose that option over war!



Now, see this is the part where I scratch my head. This leads us back to the Native American issue. We did some pretty heinous things to them...yet now, they are basically part of our culture and heritage, and despite a few clinging social problems (such as alcoholism, whole 'nother can of worms there...) we all get along pretty well here. We have many programs for people with Native American ancestry...for help in starting businesses, going to college, etc. what's in the past is over and done with, we aren't leaving and they have accepted this for better or worse. The world would be a vastly different place now if we hadn't taken over here, but who knows whether it would have been better or not. If it hadn't been the British who colonized the east coast of the US, it probably would have been the Spanish or French instead...things would be radically different now had that been the case, too. You can't rewrite history.

Again, if I am overstepping my bounds here I apologize. But in my humble opinion, the problems in Northern Ireland appear to be a repetitive digging up of old bones.

Many people have died throughout history to get many different injustices righted. Many others have died for no logical reason whatsoever. My question is, where does it end? At what point do you say "enough is enough" and look ahead rather than behind?




If that's true, then it should be fixed. Everyone should have an equal right to a vote, especially in a European country with a democratic government.



I am very proud to be an American. If I weren't, I would leave and find something that suited me better.

Revenge and hatred can fester in a person, they do equal if not more damage to the person who gives than to the one who receives, often. I am glad to hear you've let that go. What's the quote...to err is human, to forgive, divine..? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)



The reasons for the Revolutionary war in this country were complex. "Taxation without representation" is the main theme of the reason behind the war. But that was a very different time in history. And now, the British are one of our closest Allies. To me, that's a good thing...we are both able to look ahead as nations and not dwell on past grievances.



Ditto. I hope my tone here is respectful, because as I said before, I feel that it isn't really my place as an American to tell people in Europe how to solve their political problems.



Again, I can't imagine what life is like over there, I have visited but not been there long enough or spoken to enough different people to really understand it. All I can do is throw in my two cents and hope it's taken in the spirit of logical debate. I hold a great deal of respect for those who have strong ideas and are willing to stand up for them.

Hey, WeeIrishDevil...wanna have a contest to see who's wordier? lol

I'll jump in here and post the Gaelic lyrics to Amhr�n na bhFiann, cuz I also want to know the chords of Gary's version. =)

Seo dhibh a ch�irde duan �glaigh,
Cathr�imeach briomhar ceolmhar,
�r dtinte cn�mh go buacach t�id,
'S an sp�ir go min r�altogach
Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo
'S go ti�nmhar gl� roimh th�ocht do'n l�
F� chi�nas chaomh na hoiche ar seol:
Seo libh cana�dh Amhr�n na bhFiann

Sinne Firnna F�il
A t� f� gheall ag �irinn,
buion d�r slua
Thar toinn do r�inig chugainn,
F� mh�id bheith saor.
Sean t�r �r sinsir feasta
N� fhagfar f�'n tior�n n� f�n tr�il
Anocht a th�am sa bhearna bhaoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun b�is n� saoil
Le guna screach f� l�mhach na bpil�ar
Seo libh cana�dh Amhr�n na bhFiann.

Cois b�nta r�idhe, ar �rdaibh sl�ibhe,
Ba bhuachach �r sinsir romhainn,
Ag l�mhach go tr�an f�'n s�r-bhrat s�in
T� thuas sa ghaoith go seolta
Ba dh�chas riamh d'�r gcine ch�idh
Gan iomp�il siar � imirt �ir,
'S ag si�l mar iad i gcoinne n�mhad
Seo libh, cana�dh Amhr�n na bhFiann

Sinne Firnna F�il
A t� f� gheall ag �irinn,
buion d�r slua
Thar toinn do r�inig chugainn,
F� mh�id bheith saor.
Sean t�r �r sinsir feasta
N� fhagfar f�'n tior�n n� f�n tr�il
Anocht a th�am sa bhearna bhaoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun b�is n� saoil
Le guna screach f� l�mhach na bpil�ar
Seo libh cana�dh Amhr�n na bhFiann.

Btw Gary, may I ask what guitarlabel you're playing on? and also, did you receive my last mail?

Sl�n go foill (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Actually, I got it from soulseek, and it's also tagged Billy Briggs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) but I can't find the lyric anywhere (I can't understand well everything they are saying and all that) - but thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)



Yeah, there's got to be someone. I've also tryed some history books, but haven't found it yet.

Why would you consider trying to ignore me?

The question was asked about peoples' views.

I am a person.

Also, I am from Belfast. Oglaigh appears to be from Dublin, Charlotte from France, and yourself from the USA. Tom and Paul, I don't know.

Other than Charlotte, I'm the only person to have responded with my views.

You say I neglected to "brag how they act while...". Indeed - I neglected a great many things. But I gave you the view of an Irish person living in Northern Ireland.

What is this about "A dollar a bullet" by the way?